Photo: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent rioting has exposed just how ignorant our elected leaders are about our federalist system of governance.
At Attorney General William Barr's recent congressional hearing, for example, Washington Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal criticized the AG for sending federal troops to protect federal property in Portland.
But she did so in the most ignorant way possible.
“When white men with swastikas storm a government building with guns (in Michigan), there is no need for the president to ‘activate you’ because they’re getting the president’s agenda done. When Black people and people of color protest police brutality, systemic racism, and the president’s own lack of response to those issues, then you forcibly remove them with armed federal officers.”
Never mind the fact that the Michigan anti-lockdown protests were entirely peaceful -- Rep. Jayapal doesn't seem to understand how federal jurisdiction works.
Washington can send federal troops to Portland to protect federal property from looting and destruction. They cannot send federal troops to Michigan to "protect" the capitol building because that's under state jurisdiction.
Our state governors and media members aren't much better. They claim that President Trump has failed to mandate masks or lockdown orders, but they don't seem to understand that President Trump doesn't have this authority under our federalist system. If anyone has that authority, it's state governors. If anyone should be blamed for failing to implement coronavirus response policies, it's them.
Maybe these politicians are ignorant. Maybe they just don't care. Either way, our country needs a civics lesson, and a Convention of States can provide one.
Along with effectively limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, a Convention of States can bring our federalist system to the forefront of the national consciousness. A Convention of States is called by the states under Article V, and it has the power to propose constitutional amendments that limit the scope of federal power.
Many Americans (unfortunately) don't think very often about whether the states or the feds have the rightful power to accomplish a task or implement a policy. By calling the first-ever Article V Convention of States, the COS patriots and state delegations will encourage everyone (including our politicians) to recognize how much power the federal government has accrued -- and how little the states and the people get to decide.
If you want to be a part of this movement, the first step is to sign the Convention of States Petition below!
