Editor,

Our founding fathers, 234 years ago, had the wisdom to foresee that governments often become corrupt and over powerful. Knowing that such governments do not relinquish their power or correct their own corruption; they gave the states the power to bypass the federal government and make necessary corrections. They added a section in Article V of the Constitution “... to call a Convention for proposing Amendments,...” We have a nationwide organization working to have a Convention of States called to propose amendments limited to the following topics: 1. Limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of congress, 2. Impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, and 3. Limit the Power & Jurisdiction of the federal government. Over 13,700 people in Montana have signed a petition showing support. However, there are many false fears being circulated to scare people away from using Article V. This is not the first time scare tactics have been used to defeat the COS. This actually began 70 years ago. 

“During the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, establishment liberals were pleased with the growth of the federal government and the activist Supreme Court. They wanted no corrective amendments. Rather, they felt threatened by conservative and moderate efforts to use the convention process. Liberals developed, therefore, a campaign to effectively disable it.” — Robert Natelson 

Liberals of that day did not want a COS called that might reverse Roe vs. Wade and other court decisions. People such as Professor Charles Black, Senators Joseph Tydings, William Proxmire, Jacob Javits, etc. wrote articles and testified before congress using the following scare tactics: a “convention would be uncontrollable.” “...could radically rewrite the constitution,” would “limit free speech, ...” “... reinstate segregation, and even slavery; throw out all or much of the Bill of Rights ... eliminate the 14th Amendment’s due process clause and reverse any Supreme Court decisions....” 

As William Davie, a delegate to the constitutional convention, said “It is much easier to alarm people than to inform them.” Thus, we hear some of these same fears repeated today, to alarm and scare people away from supporting the COS. There are actually more safeguards on a Convention of States than on our federal congress proposing amendments. Today 19 states have passed applications calling for a COS. Montana was only 2 votes away. Don’t allow our federal congress, presidential executive orders, bureaucratic regulations, and case laws to continually misinterpret our constitution. Attend a local presentation and learn how the COS, a peaceful and constitutional solution, can rein in our out-of-control federal government. Call 509-793-4558. 

Peggy Bates

COS District Captain

Thompson Falls