Convention of States is a broad and bold movement that includes diverse and unique volunteers and activists from all walks of life. As the largest grassroots political movement, the stories behind each volunteer are varied and inspirational, and all of them deserve focused attention. In sharing my story, I hope to spark reflection in every volunteer to share theirs and for every American optimist to form their own.
My name is Ethan, and I am an intern with the Convention of States' Leaders Launchpad program. I am proud to support the call for an Article V convention and feel honored to have the team behind COSA PA as my mentors. Joining an organization as courageous and impactful as this is not a decision made lightly, nor by lukewarm wanderers without principles. It was a specific moment in time that led me to the conclusion that our government would never self-decentralize.
The year 2020 marked a tumultuous period for our country. The political climate was polarized, angry, and uproarious between riots, protests, a pandemic, and a razor-thin presidential election. That same year, I was a high school freshman with no particular animosity or admiration for civics, politics, or government. However, I was even less a fan of STEM subjects, so I chose over four civics-focused classes to balance my school workload with subjects I didn’t expressly dislike. With the benefit of homeschooling, I could internalize the content quickly enough to keep pace with the rapidly changing political climate and stay on top of the most pressing issues. Saying 2020 was a formative year for me is an understatement. My education helped me put the government overreach I was witnessing into perspective.
Chief among my classes that year was Dr. Michael Farris' Constitutional Literacy course, a curriculum similar to what COSA teaches through its online classes. Dr. Farris sparked my interest in exploring the true history and meaning behind America's founding, including the Philadelphia Convention, the values and compromises that shaped our Constitution, and how, in fact, the government had no mandate to force millions of citizens to strap pieces of cloth to their faces. Toward the end of the course, Dr. Farris guides students toward a modern solution to our failing political system: an Article V convention of states for proposing amendments.
In the years since completing Dr. Farris' course, my political views have continued to evolve, and my focus has shifted toward political activity and action. To be clear, I did not enter political activity out of personal interest but because the government left me no choice. Noticing that no elected, appointed, or empowered official responsible for the tyranny of the COVID-19 era lost re-election or faced even the slightest consequence, I knew an overhaul was necessary. So, when COSA emailed me about an internship opportunity this semester, I quickly applied and was thrilled to be accepted. The Leaders Launchpad is an excellent and motivating program that I am proud to be a part of, and it feeds the flame that Dr. Farris sparked in me years ago.
Today, when America seems more divided than ever, and when the central government has lost honesty, responsibility, and credibility, the time for drastic change has come. Facing foreign crises and economic instability exacerbated by unchecked centralized power, America desperately needs the reorientation that COS offers. If America is to be saved, a convention is inevitable, and I am proud to support COSA in its tireless efforts to restore our self-governance.
