Koch Convention to Rewrite Constitution Runs Into Roadblocks

BBA momentum stalls

>Backers of a balanced budget amendment convention set their sights on at least seven red states this year, but of those, Wisconsin is the only one still in play, with an Assembly vote scheduled for June 14. Growing opposition resulted in the hard-fought defeat of a BBA resolution in Idaho and the tabling of a similar measure in Kentucky.

>More than 200 organizations, including the Center for Media and Democracy, signed onto a letter in April 2017 denouncing an Article V convention at this time as "a dangerous threat to the U.S. Constitution, our democracy, and our civil rights and liberties."

>In addition, three legislatures rescinded prior convention calls, following Delaware's lead last year. As a result, the number of states with BBA convention calls has dropped by one; passage in Wisconsin would make the year a wash.

>The groups behind the convention drive are disappointed but undeterred, and have targeted at least seven states for 2018, (Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington).

>"With tremendous momentum led by ALEC and other arch-conservative organizations, we started 2017 expecting to see Article V resolutions pass in many states," said Common Cause campaign strategist Jay Riestenberg. "Instead, in this dangerous period of divisive politics, we saw bi-partisan cooperation in several states to protect the Constitution."

>"While three states took action to protect our Constitution by rescinding Article V convention resolutions, wealthy special interest groups are still dangerously close to calling a convention that would put everyone's constitutional rights and protections up for grabs," Riestenberg said.

>All of the bills are closely tailored to model measures being promoted by the Koch-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force. Funded and controlled by large corporations, including Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, telecom, and tobacco companies, ALEC has supported a BBA since 1995 and renewed its push for a constitutional convention in recent years, publishing an Article V convention handbook for legislators and hosting numerous strategy sessions.

>BBA advocates cite "common sense" concerns about "fiscal responsibility," but the rhetoric masks the outright hostility that the Kochs and other billionaire backers have for key federal programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and for the regulatory infrastructure that protects consumers and the environment. Prominent economists warn that such an austerity amendment--which would constrain discretionary spending but not tax giveaways for corporations and the wealthy--would have catastrophic results during economic downturns and cripple the federal government's ability to aid states as they deal with the severe impacts of climate change.

More radical measures gain momentum

>Meanwhile, a faction of the Article V convention crowd seeking a much more radical rewrite of the Constitution made significant gains in 2017. The "Convention of States" (COS) project, run by the Texas-based Citizens for Self Governance, introduced wide-ranging resolutions calling for a broad convention to limit the powers of the federal government in 24 states and won passage in four, Arizona, Missouri, North Dakota, and Texas.

>COS, whose budget more than tripled between 2011 and 2015 to $5.7 million, now has a total of 12 states behind its more unlikely, but more dangerous, approach. The group, founded by Tea Party Patriots founder Mark Meckler and Koch-tied dark money man Eric O'Keefe, has received major support from the Koch-linked Donors Trust and backing from ALEC, which has adopted COS’s proposal as a "model" bill. It seeks a constitutional convention to pass any number of amendments designed to limit the powers of the federal government, adopt term limits, and allow states to opt-out of regulations and even Supreme Court decisions they do not like.

>The COS strategy, if successful, would radically revise the Constitution's structure of state and federal power sharing in a way that goes to the heart of what it means to be "united states." Most of the states that have passed Convention of State resolutions are in the deep south, prompting some critics to call it the "New Confederacy."

>>162092
>Limiting the federal government powers that have been expanding rapidly for 100 years

Sounds fine

>>162098
it would limit them in ways that would overwhelmingly benefit the very wealthy and the corporations.
small government because the wealthiest and corporations benefit disproportionately from tax cuts and cutting regulation and unlimited lobbying and corporate donations. big government for everyone else because... y'know... fuck unions... and we need those social conservative votes. Wait... unless we're protecting the working class, then we need small government again.

>>162120

Buzzwords: The post

>>162120
The government benefits the wealthy and corperations

This could be a very bad thing or a really good thing. Seeing how it's being backed by the Koch brothers and other billionaires, most likely very very bad for the average working class.

>>162128
How so? They literally just go around knocking over federal overreach. Helps the working class via jobs and cash flow.

>>162130
How is it even possible to be this naive? The deregulation of the Nixon and Reagan eras has created massive wealth inequalities, severely harming the working class.

https://thecurrentmoment.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/productivity-and-real-wages.jpg

>>162092
>http://www.prwatch.org/
KYS you communist dyke.

>>162295
Also, OLD:
http://www.alternet.org/right-wing/koch-brothers-constitutional-convention-roadblock

>>162132
KYS commie.

>>162346
That's the sound of a fascist dog hitting a mental roadblock.

>>162349
And that's the sound of a communist faggot who reused to admit that they lost.

>>162353
Lost what? Also, not a commie.

>>162358
Lost the election.
Lost the cold war.
Lost everything.

>>162349
Communism has failed in history.
Fascism was proven to work well.

end of discussion.

>>162382
Amen.

>>162382
Fascism and hierarchy are natural; The Koch brothers have the rights to destroy the constitution, create their own army, and invade nations for the sake of capitalism. Those who argue otherwise are delusional sloths that need to put back to their places.

>>162382
literally no one of any significance anywhere in the US is opining for communism. Even the furthest left liberal intellectuals, economists, and politicians at the most extreme are opining for state capitalism.

>>162390
Regulations were a communist ploy to weaken the global economy for a hostile takeover.

>>162092
A Convention of the States is the best way to enact much needed term limits on congress.

It could also be used to put checks on the supreme court, remember you commie scum, the old conservative judges will soon be replaced with young conservative judges, and R.B.G. will be dying soon too. There will not be an activist ruling out of the supreme court for at least 30 years. So wouldn't it be better to have an option for a majority of states be able to overturn any ruling by them?

Anyone who tries to convince you that an article 5 convention isn't desperately needed is just vile statist scum.

People who try to use Koch as some sort of boogie man have no credibility and probably paid by Soros or his ilk.

>>162385
For me that sounds like a dream come true. The east india company was the best things humanity has ever invented. Working for them was the closest you can get to be a space marine. Invade foreign lands for profit and kill the xenos scum.

>>162385
>>162432

So you finally show your true form, Andross!

Go ask the German fascists you revere how that worked out.

>>162382
>Fascism was proven to work well.
In related news, man who has been in a coma for 80 years just woke up...

>>162132
>How is it even possible to be this naive?
The funny thing is that they're incredibly naive, yet for some reason they think they would do well in a libertarian small government future...
They also imagine that such a future would somehow mean that people with merit rise to the top, when in reality it's more likely that the most brutal, scheming, and nepotistic would be the ones to rise to the top.

>>162431
>People who try to use Koch as some sort of boogie man have no credibility and probably paid by Soros or his ilk.

>>Koch brothers are boogeyman
>>Unironic 'Muh Soros' argument.

FFS Do you even pay attention to the shit you spew?

It bothers me because ancap faggots like you seem to hate Soros but he's literally the most successful version of what you fucking want.

>>162443
I love the old Soros that ruined governments by playing their currency and bonds. I hate the current Soros that pushes Communism, degeneracy and SJW bullshit in every nation on earth.

So lemme get this straight

>Big government is bad
>All your problems are caused by mega corporations lobbying the big government
>So as I, the billionaire corporatist, will fix your problems by reducing the government

Gee this all sounds kinda suspicious to me. I don't like government overreach as much as the next guy but I don't exactly trust some corporate cocksucker billionaire to hold my best interests at heart either.

>>162454
Well going by the historic record plutocracy is infinitely better for citizens than communism

>>162444
that doesn't really address the hypocrisy of your statement.

>>162497
Why is that so hard to get? When he was acting like a capitalist I loved him. Now he is using his wealth to spread Communism. And I don't like that.
Of course we all aspire to become as rich as Soros. But we don't plan to start funding feminism and transgenderism with that money.

>>162382
>Fascism was proven to work well.

"No."

>>162443
One, your point depends on a moral equivalency that isn't there. Soros does evil with his money, spreading Communism is evil.

Two, the Convention of States is not an ancap movement, that's just a lousy attempt to mischaracterize it so it's easier to discredit. This one is particularly lousy because the country needs a push in the ancap direction, and even if it became totally ancap it would still be way better than communism, socialism, or whatever type of leftist fascism comes out of the Frankfurt school.

Three, thank you for validating all the points I brought up that you ignored.

>>162353
You're a fucking douchebag that didn't even attempt to craft an argument. You went right to insults and death threats. You are a cancer. Go fuck a mailbox.

>>162514
Have you already pre ordered Hillarys book?

>>162515
Fuck off, I voted for Gary Johnson.

>>162518
Hahahahahaha

What is Aleppo?

>>162518
Oh my. Then you're an actual retard and not just larping. Hope you get better soon. Mental illness is tough.

>>162382
>Fascism has proven to work well.
Oh man.

>>162432
>yfw The Sepoy Mutiny
Literally a bunch of amateurs who blundered their way to success and mistook luck for skill. The political fallout is an interesting case in the reluctance of Parliament to accept empire.

>>162521
>>162524
You fucking kidding? Im happier than ever with my vote. Hillary is corrupt and Trump is corrupt AND incapable. Stop drinking the koolaid.

>>162431
>thats just your boogieman, and are probably paid by my boogieman

>>162544
So why didn't he know what Aleppo is? A President is supposed to be learned and informed. I am humble enough to accept that I am not fully versed in presidential matters and should not run for President, yet Gary Johnson is a professional politician and saw fit to put himself up for elecion. Why did he do it? Why was it allowed?

I am libertarian leaning but I have developed a disdain for where the Libertarian Party is heading.

>>162544
>I'm happy with my vote
>Vote litterally did nothing

>>162654
Neither did yours

>>162653
>So why didn't he know what Aleppo is?
im no libertarian, but irc libertarians tend to be in favor of focusing on internal matters exclusively instead of interfering with other countries, so maybe that's why.

>>162653
>A President is supposed to be learned and informed.
but trump is neither
so not sure what you are even trying to do here

>>162439
Time to read The Prince

>>162738
>in favor of focusing on internal matters exclusively instead of interfering with other countries, so maybe that's why.

So in short, ill bury my head in the sand and pretend the rest of the world doesnt exist

>>162092

I'm not seeing the problem with a balanced budget amendment, nor do I see a problem with the states calling for term limits, and checks on the federal government for that matter. The states are supposed to handle most things anyway, the federal government is supposed to have strong overarching power only in a few key areas and has exceeded them in the past century. People are more able to hold state governments accountable, so move power away from the feds and give it to the states.