The American political system is without question among the greatest in the history of the world. We have the oldest written constitution, and our republic has survived a civil war, two world wars, and a great depression. The United States boasts the strongest military and the most prosperous economy, and our elections give the people a voice in national politics every two years.
More importantly, we pioneered the idea that a nation can come together around the ideas of freedom and self-governance rather than geographical or ethnic similarities. Our governing documents have provided the blueprint for liberty, and nations around the world have tried to emulate our values and ethos.
Despite all this, a new Gallup poll has found that less than 1/3rd of Americans are proud of our political system. According to the poll, Americans are still proud of our science, military, and economic achievements, but don't feel nearly as positive about our politics.
It's tough to blame Americans for feeling this way. Even though our political systems have historically been great, they've been eroded over the last 100 years by an overreaching Congress, White House, and Supreme Court.
The Founders constructed a system that was intended to limit the power of the national government and allow the people and the states to make the decisions that would be best for their local communities. That structure unleashed the creativity, productivity, and hard work of the American people, and our nation rose from a backwater colony into a world superpower.
But the federal government has forgotten what made our nation great. Rather than empowering the people, they've empowered themselves, and now a large majority of Americans are ashamed of their country's political system.
The good news is that the same system our Founders constructed holds the keys to our nation's resurgence. Article V of the Constitution allows the people, acting through their state legislatures, to call a Convention of States for the purpose of proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments can restore the Founders' vision by limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and returning that decision-making power to the states and the people.
Only when the people are once again in control can we hope to restore pride in our systems of government. We can do exactly that with a Convention of States.
