Gallup released the results of a survey last week that asked respondents to name the most important issues that will affect their vote in the 2020 presidential election.
Unlike most years, when one or two issues come to the forefront, Gallup found that five issues were rated as "extremely important" by at least 30 percent of U.S. adults: healthcare, national security, gun policy, education and the economy.
These are all important issues, but we shouldn't be looking to the next president to fix them. As we've seen time and again, big promises on the campaign trail always meet the reality of working in a polarized, corrupt, inefficient federal government.
Instead, the American people should be looking to themselves and the states to address these issues, and the best way is by calling the first-ever Article V Convention of States.
Here's how a Convention of States can address each of these top-five issues:
Healthcare
The federal government has had its chance to "fix" the healthcare system. Obamacare resulted in higher premiums and lower quality of care. Veteran's Affairs hospitals are disaster areas, and "universal healthcare" proposals would bankrupt our country and destroy self-governance.
It's time to return decision-making power to the states and the people, and we can do it with a Convention of States. A Convention of States can propose constitutional amendments that limit the jurisdiction of the federal government and get them out of the healthcare business -- for good.
Terrorism and National Security
In 2010, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen said, "The most significant threat to our national security is our debt."
Since then, our debt has grown exponentially, and our position as supreme power on the world stage has come under fire. We can't be strong abroad if we aren't strong at home, and a Convention of States can get our country's finances back on track.
Delegates to a Convention of States can propose amendments that force Congress to be fiscally responsible. These amendments can mandate a balanced budget, along with spending limits and tax caps, to force our elected officials to cut wasteful and unnecessary spending.
Gun Policy
The Framers knew that the individual right to keep and bear arms could never be "infringed" by the federal government. Unfortunately, that's exactly what the federal government has done -- and threatens to do again if anti-gun politicians regain control of the White House and Congress.
A Convention of States can propose amendments that limit federal power and jurisdiction in a wide variety of areas, including gun policy. As Charles Cooper explained at this year's Leadership Summit, supporters of the Second Amendment should be supporters of a Convention of States.
Education
Education is in the same boat as healthcare. Years of "oversight" by the federal government have "utterly failed" to improve the educational outcomes of young Americans. We need to return full decision-making power to the people who know our children best -- their families, their communities, and their states.
A Convention of States can get the feds out of education the same way it can get the feds out of healthcare. By proposing constitutional amendments that limit the jurisdiction of the federal government, a Convention of States can return educational power to the people and the states.
The Economy
Right now, thanks in large part to President Trump, the economy is great. But it won't always be this way.
An investor who predicted the 2008 Great Recession is warning that our country's deficit spending could plunge the nation into an even worse recession in the coming years.
Congress' reckless spending habits must be stopped. We can't continue to increase the deficit and debt and expect that the economy will maintain jobs and growth.
The Framers predicted this might happen, which is why they included the Convention of States option in Article V of the Constitution. A Convention of States can force Congress to be fiscally responsible, decrease the debt, and get the deficit under control.
The next president can address all of these issues temporarily. But only a Convention of States can restore the balance of power between Washington and the states -- and get each of these issues back under the permanent control of We the People.
Sign the Convention of States Petition below to show your support!
