The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent riots have proven definitively that many Americans have no idea how our country's federalist system is intended to operate.
The Founders outlined a system of governance in the Constitution that gives certain powers to the federal government and certain powers to the state governments. The federal government's powers are supposed to be narrow and limited while the powers of state governments are more broad (but still bounded by the Bill of Rights).
But bad Supreme Court decisions and power-grabs by Congress have so warped this system that many Americans believe that Washington, D.C., is responsible for solving all of our country's problems.
The cry of some Americans -- including members of the media -- for President Trump to "fix" the coronavirus pandemic is the perfect example. The President has the power to help states secure medial supplies (which he did) and fast-track vaccine development (which he also did), but he can't determine state policies like mask-wearing and stay-at-home orders. That would go against our federalist system of governance and be an abuse of federal power.
Other Americans have called on the President to quell the rioting and looting in major American cities. But he can't do this, either. He can offer support and resources (which he's done), but he can't send federal troops into cities unless it's to protect federal property. To blame the President for rioting demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how our country operates.
But it's no wonder Americans are confused. The federal government dictates our decisions in our daily lives all the time -- why can't they step in and "fix" these problems, too?
The current president may respect federalist principles, but future presidents may not be so constitutionally minded. We have to reverse the trend towards expanding federal power, and we can do it with an Article V Convention of States.
A Convention of States is called and controlled by the states and has the power to propose constitutional amendments that limit the power, scope, and jurisdiction of the federal government. These amendments can eliminate federal agencies, reduce the power of others, and shrink the number of issues Congress can control.
These amendments will also be written with activist Supreme Court justices and power-hungry politicians in mind -- the federal government won't be able to poke holes in these amendments, just as they haven't been able to poke holes in any of the modern-day amendments.
Our federalist system is on the brink of destruction. We must act now before future presidents and politicians use the next crisis to invade American cities or impose nationwide mandates. The best way to avoid that catastrophe is with an Article V Convention of States, and 15 of the necessary 34 states have already signed on.
To help make your state #16, sign the Convention of States Petition below!
