Constitutional Convention true threat or right wing pipe dream?

[MattP]

It sounds scary as hell but 34 states need to send it to Congress both houses need to pass and than 38 states would have to ratify sounds pretty far fetched

[Buckeyeblue]

1. Always a threat...

It's too bad there isn't a vehicle to amend the constitution based on the true will of the majority. I don't think the founders envisioned a country where a greater number of less populated states would be able to control the legislation over the more populated states.

It flies in the face of democracy that mcturtle has the power that he does from a state like Kentucky. While Kentucky is a beautiful state full of hard working people, in the overall scheme of things, it adds very little to our overall GNP or tax base.

Maybe a new constitution would come up with a better way of distributing the overall representation to somehow reflect the will of the majority.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Probably more likely not to happen BUT

This should be "Exhibit A" for why we need to concern ourselves with state and local elections as much as federal elections. The GOP nearly controls enough states completely to call for one if so inclined and their designs on the country are ghastly. The good news is that some states may have GOP governors but Democratic-controlled (partially or fully) legislatures or vice-versa. But we need to put as much distance between a CC and their ability to potentially call for one.

[tritsofme]

3. Any amendments adopted by a convention would still need to be ratified by 3/4 of states

Even if they had their convention, it is unlikely to accomplish much.

Not to mention the logistical challenges of who and how to run the convention itself.

[JHB]

4. Not high probability but still a threat

Conservatives and libertarians want to lock out anything that even looks cross-eyed like the New Deal, or even a shadow of it, and so a new constitutional convention has been one of their pet projects.

It's unlikely to come to fruition, but then, so was Brexit or a Trump presidency. They lay the groundwork, and may go for it if they see the chance.

[eleny]

5. The thing to remember is that they never give up trying

[J_William_Ryan]

6. Neither likely nor a threat

now that the right has a social conservative Supreme Court.

Conservatives can accomplish with a reactionary, ‘originalist’ Supreme Court what they sought to accomplish with a Constitutional convention.

Indeed, conservatives threatened to resort to a convention because of their opposition to, and frustration with, Court decisions recognizing a woman’s right to privacy and gay Americans’ right to equal protection of the law.

With Kennedy gone and likely more Trump Supreme Court appointments to come, conservatives can dismantle the 14th Amendment/substantive due process case law they loathe, allowing the states to disadvantage women and discriminate against minorities.