The road to hell is paved with good intentions
How the States Lost Their Wealth
The opening quote attributed to abbot Bernard of Clairvaux emphasizes the fallibility of humans. What we create with the best of intentions (prevent the destruction of natural resources) evolves into a power grab disguised as benevolence (Environmental Protection Agency).
The “good intentions” began back in 1908 with the “Governors Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources” endorsed by President 
Theodore Roosevelt. Reading the histories of early conservation conferences it is apparent that the concerns were genuine. The industrial revolution had brought numerous land and water issues to the fore in eastern states. Since most open and undeveloped land was west of the Mississippi River, it made sense that effort to prevent repetition of previous mistakes focus on these states/territories.
Fast forward to the present day and we are now facing “the road to hell”. Federal control of twenty seven percent of our country’s acreage (92% of these lands are in twelve western states) has given Washington D. C.
enormous regulatory power over states’ natural resources (oil, gas, minerals, timber, etc.). Federal control of western states’ resources has crippled not only theirs but also the nation’s economic potential.
How the States Can Regain Their Lost Wealth
The simulated Convention of States held in August of 2023 proposed six amendments to the United States Constitution. The last amendment, “Federal Legislative & Executive Jurisdiction Proposal 3”, returns our natural resource wealth back to the states and flips the economic balance of power away from DC.
Section 1: The federal government shall not own, regulate or control land or mineral rights.
Section 2: Regulation or control of greater than ten percent of land and mineral rights in any county by Washington D. C. must be approved by consent of the state legislature.
Section 3: Congress is compelled to return all remaining lands and mineral rights to each state within ten years.
Section 4: Control is defined as the combination of federal regulations and other measures effectively rendering the land non-taxable and prohibited from development.
Section 5: This amendment shall not apply to military bases, Indian lands or national parks designated prior to 1976.
Section 6: Navigable Waters shall be limited to lakes and rivers actively used for transfer of goods in interstate commerce.
Wealth is Power
Monetary policy and printing of currency is rightfully a federal responsibility. States can, however, freely compete for the available supply of currency if they control the wealth (development and sale of resources) available within their borders. This ability to affect currency distribution outside of federal control returns economic power to the states. COS Federal Legislative & Executive Jurisdiction Proposal 3 enables resource rich states to tip power away from the federal government using Article V.
COSA promotes a resource independent America. We believe that each state has the right to develop and market the blessings given it by God within its borders in accordance with their legislated laws. If you agree that states should have sovereign control over their lands please open a dialogue with your local and state officials to discuss why. Remind your representatives that the founding fathers granted states’ authority over the federal government. A respectful discussion of this amendment is vital to our national discourse.
