We at the Convention of States Project unequivocally condemn the violence and destruction yesterday at the United States Capitol.
"It's appalling, and there's no excuse for it. Innocent people were hurt, many more innocent people could have been hurt. I'm saddened and appalled," Convention of States Action President Mark Meckler said yesterday on Facebook.
"Revolutions don't go well. You think back romantically to the American revolution... you don't understand the death, the devastation," Mark explained. "The American revolution turned out well. That's not normal, it's not average. The French revolution is more average. Revolutions to escape from tyranny usually end up in worse tyranny. Those who win revolutions are usually the boldest tyrants, the most violent."
"I'm no pacifist," Mark continued. "My son is a Marine. We love and believe in the Second Amendment. We're willing to fight if it ever comes down to it, but we're nowhere near that point in American history."
Violence is not the answer to our country's problems because we already have a solution to the overreach, abuse, and corruption in our nation's capital: an Article V Convention of States.
"The answer is to use the process, use the system... that's where our power comes from," Mark said. "We have the power under the United States Constitution to take power away from D.C. and give it back to the people. Violence is not the way to do that."
An Article V Convention of States is called and controlled by the states and has the power to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Here's how it works:
- Thirty-four states pass resolutions calling for an Article V Convention of States for some specific purpose. Our resolution -- passed in 15 states -- calls for a Convention to limit federal power, impose fiscal restraints on Congress, and mandate term limits for federal officials.
- A Convention is held. All 50 states attend, and delegations debate and vote on amendment proposals. An amendment is officially proposed if it receives a majority of votes.
- Those proposals go back to the states for ratification. If 38 states vote to approve any amendment proposal, that amendment becomes part of the Constitution.
Amendments proposed at a Convention of States would go a long way towards solving the problems that frustrate so many Americans today. These amendments could get career politicians out of Washington by proposing term limits. They could force Congress to be fiscally responsible by mandating spending caps, tax limits, and a balanced budget.
But most of all, these amendments could limit the power of the federal government and return that power to the states and the people.
The violence we saw yesterday is a symptom of a larger disease: the American people feel powerless. They don't believe their federal officials listen to them, and they don't feel like they can have any real influence on how their country operates. A Convention of States would remove decision-making power from D.C. and give it to the states, where average citizens can have a real voice.
Limiting the power of the federal government will also deescalate the enormous tension surrounding national elections. If Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and a Democratic Congress didn't have the power to radically transform the country, Americans wouldn't feel like they had to use whatever means necessary to keep the next administration from being sworn in. They could focus on improving their towns, communities, and states and leave the federal government to perform its narrow, limited function.
That's the vision of the federal government outlined in the Constitution, and that's the vision of our country we want to make a reality. Over four million Americans have joined the Convention of States effort, and 15 states have passed the Convention of States Resolution.
If you want to join a real revolution -- a peaceful, legal, effective revolution -- sign the Convention of States Petition below.
