Let the new Age of Reform begin. If anything good comes out of the last 10 years it will have to be in the form of fundamental course corrections. Our system is clearly weaker than we thought it was.
I was pondering your idea. I came across a YouTube by the Aspen Institute titled: "The US Constitution was an illegal document". The point made was that the Constitutional Convention violated the Articles of Convention, the ruling document at the time, and if there had been a court in existence at the time with the authority to pass judgment, it would have been ruled illegal. I saw an echo here of your bringing up the power of the people in the instigation to create our founding document.
I suppose the reason for your suggestion requiring a member from each state in the Code of Ethics Committee was to give it a sense of representativeness. A national election to initially select members seems cumbersome and probably unworkable, so, like the Constitutional Convention itself, I suppose the Committee in some sense would be self-selecting. I would think that these would be people exceptional for their practical knowledge underlaid by good character and wisdom, including perhaps moral philosophers, retired politicians, and Constitutional scholars (something like the qualities of the writers of the Constitution).
Until the Document was completed there would seem to be no need to invoke law, though its creation should not be secret--on the contrary, it should be well publicized and publicly argued. Upon completion, the calling of a national referendum would seem to require invoking the "Power of the People" language in the 10th Amendment, and apparently taking a case to the Supreme Court. The issue of "standing" would seem to arise, and the 10th Amendment would be the instrument used to argue for standing.
Assuming the hurdle overcome of gaining recognition of authority to call a national referendum, and assuming the referendum was successful, the "Power of the People" argument would be activated by that success, enabling it to Mandate that "the Legislative Branch will write the Legislation to create the Ethics Enforcement Agency".
Are my thoughts in accordance with what you had in mind?
Thank you, Don, and yes I do agree with your thoughts. The reason I suggested a representative from each State was to get total buy in, but any convention held by persons of integrity, higher intelligence, and knowledge of the Constitution and ethical and moral guidance (not sexual morality, which I consider unimportant) would be good.
Let the new Age of Reform begin. If anything good comes out of the last 10 years it will have to be in the form of fundamental course corrections. Our system is clearly weaker than we thought it was.
Genius ! I love the idea.
Thank you, I was unable to find your posts in Notes. Did you try again to post to
Substack?
Amen, Rachel!
Faye,
I was pondering your idea. I came across a YouTube by the Aspen Institute titled: "The US Constitution was an illegal document". The point made was that the Constitutional Convention violated the Articles of Convention, the ruling document at the time, and if there had been a court in existence at the time with the authority to pass judgment, it would have been ruled illegal. I saw an echo here of your bringing up the power of the people in the instigation to create our founding document.
I suppose the reason for your suggestion requiring a member from each state in the Code of Ethics Committee was to give it a sense of representativeness. A national election to initially select members seems cumbersome and probably unworkable, so, like the Constitutional Convention itself, I suppose the Committee in some sense would be self-selecting. I would think that these would be people exceptional for their practical knowledge underlaid by good character and wisdom, including perhaps moral philosophers, retired politicians, and Constitutional scholars (something like the qualities of the writers of the Constitution).
Until the Document was completed there would seem to be no need to invoke law, though its creation should not be secret--on the contrary, it should be well publicized and publicly argued. Upon completion, the calling of a national referendum would seem to require invoking the "Power of the People" language in the 10th Amendment, and apparently taking a case to the Supreme Court. The issue of "standing" would seem to arise, and the 10th Amendment would be the instrument used to argue for standing.
Assuming the hurdle overcome of gaining recognition of authority to call a national referendum, and assuming the referendum was successful, the "Power of the People" argument would be activated by that success, enabling it to Mandate that "the Legislative Branch will write the Legislation to create the Ethics Enforcement Agency".
Are my thoughts in accordance with what you had in mind?
Thank you, Don, and yes I do agree with your thoughts. The reason I suggested a representative from each State was to get total buy in, but any convention held by persons of integrity, higher intelligence, and knowledge of the Constitution and ethical and moral guidance (not sexual morality, which I consider unimportant) would be good.
Fay, your concept is wonderful! I hope it goes viral and stars a grass-roots fire.