Your constitution is an outstanding document and has preserved our freedom since its inception. However, the constitution was brief and resolved issues as they existed at the time of the founding of our nation. Some of the wording has been defined by those who would like to see the words interpreted to achieve their own goals.

Your conception of the meaning of the constitution might differ from mine but I believe in the basic thoughts of our founders and that they represent the thinking of most citizens.


I along with others believe the best way to save the document is to have a constitutional convention to confirm our support for the document. It is not necessary to make major changes but it is necessary to clarify certain sections.

CLARIFY THE MEANING OF SOME ARTICLES
The Bill of Rights set up by the first 10 amendments was intended to define the meaning of several issues. However, in an attempt to keep the changes relevant to the time of adoption (1791) they are pointed and brief. For example, amendment one says" Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof; ...
We often hear about the concept of the "separation of church and state" as if it were part of the constitution. This concept is in the minds of the reader who is left to make a judgement and the clarification of this issue and how to resolve it and other similar issues is the goal of many citizens.

We can add a few words to define the meaning of this clause and restore some basic rights that we have lost by actions of special interest groups and interpretation of the courts.

We will want to define the issue of the meaning of the abridging the freedom of speech; or of the press; or of the right of people to keep and bear arms.

States will want to review the preservation of states rights.

We will want to explore the process to amend the constitution, not to make major changes but to affirm and preserve it with clarification of meaning.

If any change is made I feel it should be related to taxation. I like the plan proposed for a fairer tax and have focused on the Fair Tax which is a consumption tax. I will give you resources to study this tax. Many citizens have recently demonstrated against excessive spending in our Federal Government. The Fair Tax is a good method for controlling spending, assisting seniors, low income groups and boosting the economy. I urge you to learn more at www.fairtax.org and www.fairtaxnation.org

THE POWER WE HAVE.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and The UNITED STATES of America.
As citizen voters we have great power available to us through our state legislatures. You notice above I used the sentence UNITED STATES of America for a purpose. We live on the continent of North America and there is a Central America and a South America. Therefore, America is a large continent. Through the Articles of Confederation we set up a confederation of Republics or States that were having difficulty with competition among states and problems with paying debts incurred through the gaining of independence. In 1787 the Articles of Confederation for the United States of America were adopted and it was established as a Republic of states that has endured.
Through a Convention the Constitution was proposed and was ratified in 1787. It says "We the People of the United States in Order to form a more perfect Union....establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

PROCESS TO SAVE THE CONSTITUTION
Therefore, as we enter into discussion we must remember that the order of priority is the will of the states as they united under a union of cooperation. It was a constitutional convention of the states that established the constitution.
I now refer you to an article outlining the procedures for amending the constitution.
http://www.usconstitution.net/costam.html
You will see there are four methods listed which are under 2 main categories, either changed by congress or changed by states.

THE BALANCE OF POWER OF THE STATES
You can look up the voting record of states and compare the colored states on the map. You will see that the most populous states tend to reflect liberal viewpoints and are generally considered international in thought. They tend to lean toward a "living" constitution that is interpreted with international viewpoints.

However, the majority of states that are not as well populated are more in number and tend to be the so called "heartland" of the United States and are more conservative in thinking and more inclined to preserve the history and basic foundations of the country. Therefore, this control of power can be converted to a successful effort by the citizens who can influence these states to save or preserve the constitution and carefully, very carefully, define certain key issues in the constitution. You can see an example of the states voting at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/front.htm
Recent elections show a power shift but this is expected to shift back with the discussion of the preservation of the constitution.

ORGANIZE COALITION
We must also build our power base and have a cooperative effort by several groups who are tolerant of each others viewpoints to ask the state legislatures to petition for a convention. Some groups do have major value and should be approached. These might involve religious groups who wish to preserve the recognition of the teaching of common sense guidelines of their groups,
also a tax reform group and its "Fair Tax", and the right of citizens to bear arms, plus the obligations of the press to present news without bias but not infringing on the right of opinions in editorial content, the work of Veterans Groups to preserve respect for our flag and the states with their desire to preserve states rights. "You, the People, must decide on the groups you will accept and what clarifications you want so that the states pass legislation calling for a convention affirming the constitution and including the language and only the language that you want in the definitions. This coalition of groups is vital for power to insure a strong support for only the items desired to be approved by the states and emphasis must be the preservation of the constitution and its definition.

STATES TO CALL FOR CONVENTION
The process requires approval of 2/3 of the states and with that Congress must approve and support the project. Then it must be ratified by 3/4 of the states.
We think in terms of 3 branches of government, the Congress (makes the laws) The President who signs or rejects the laws and the Supreme Court who must determine the acceptability of the law under our constitution. I hope I have illustrated to you there is a 4th powerful group, the states and you "the people" have great power to influence this 4th group.

I want to thank the efforts of Neil Boortz who made us aware of the process of the amending of the constitution. He has recently talked about the process of approaching the states to start the process for the Fair Tax. I am encouraging that activity by spreading the word but I am also encouraging a coalition of groups to make support strong and prevent other groups from changing the desired improvements to goals that are not consistent with your goals. By maintaining such strength you can control what issues are included and keep the process on track.