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The Second Constitutional Convention: How The American People Can Take Back Their Government

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In The Second Constitutional Convention: How The American People Can Take Back Their Government, educator and political observer Richard Labunski shows how United States citizens can utilize a long neglected section of the American Constitution to organize a constitutional convention, the first such since the original 1787 convention in which the Constitution was first framed and presented to then fledgling nation. Labunski also shows why such a present-day convention would be desirable to effectively deal with today's rampant cynicism about politics and government, solve the out-of-control and corruptive campaign finance system, reverse the alarming and increasing voter turn declines, the dangers and potential benefits of the Internet for our democracy, and more. The Second Constitutional Convention is "must" reading for anyone who has ever turned away in disgust with the politics and politicians that dominate and control the American government today.

Even the most ardent Constitutional purist should read Dr. Labunski's persuasive appeal for a new set of badly-needed amendments to our Constitution and a second convention. The mechanism for successive conventions was built into the document -- it's Article V -- but because the framers lacked the time to hash it out thoroughly, its promise and power have become lost to us. Yet Article V is a vital part of the document: Jefferson himself said that he envisioned that Americans re-work the constitution "every generation or so."

By addressing the most difficult constitutional issues of our day -- campaign finance reform, the electoral college, gun control and others -- Labunski presents compelling arguments for re-examining the law of the land.

With an introduction by former Independent candidate John Anderson, Labunski's book also presents a blueprint for carrying out the process of constitutional change.

If the latest debacle in Florida and the creative lawmaking of the U.S. Supreme Court are any indications of the stresses being placed on our system by a flawed electoral process, the time for genuine constitutional reform is clearly upon us.

Even if you think the idea is too radical, at least get acquainted with Labunski's arguments. You will find them more timely and convincing than you think.

Believe it or not, there is a little-known section in Article V of the US Constitution that authorizes the American people to call for a new constitutional convention (the last meeting being held in 1787). That's right, we can meet again and revise, repeal, or affirm ideas that were written over 200 years ago when America's technologies, ideas, morality, values, and conception of itself were radically different.

In Richard Labunski's, "The Second Constitutional Convention," he not only argues for the need for such a convention and how the internet could be used to organize it, but he also suggests 10 amendments that such a convention should consider. Some of these include a Campaign Finance Reform Amendment, a Crime Victims' Bill of Rights Amendment, and the Repeal of the Second Amendment (yes, the right-to-bear-arms Amendment). Most timely, however, is his thoughtful and compelling chapter on the need to abolish the Electoral College.

As I sit awaiting the returns in Florida, growing ever more cynical about the political process and democracy, Labunski has reminded me that our Founding "Fathers" were astute statesmen that understood (even if we sometimes forget) that THEIR constitution would have to be reviewed and augmented as OUR nation developed and changed in ways they could have never imagined.

Two years ago, at the University of Kentucky, I had my first class with Dr. Richard Labunski. I found him to be a very honest man who pulled no punches when it came to legal and journalistic issues.

This book reflects that personality. If you want a honest, frank opinion on our political system, this book is for you.

If you're close-minded about the greatness and pedestal-like stature of our Constitution, you might not like this book.

In this book, Labunski forced me to admit that our system of government has some glaring shortcomings.

This truth hurts, and it will keep hurting. It is a cavity in the political mouth of our nation, and it cannot be properly filled without a second convention.

I heartily recommend Richard Labunski's thoughtful and carefully researched book, "The Second Constitutional Convention." Our Constitution is probably the most revered document in U.S. history. Yet it was written long before automobiles, airplanes, telephones, or the Internet, and a lot has changed in our country. Labunski's point is that, when Congress refuses to obey the will of the people because of special-interest campaign money, for instance, we have a recourse: Though difficult, we can initiate the process of calling a new constitutional convention to revise the Constitution, so that it is, once again, of, by, and for The People.

For anyone who's read Larry Sabato's, "A More Perfect Constitution," and has an interest in what a 2nd Constitutional Convention could be like, this book is a good analogue. Worthy of a read.

Both books contain a list of possible amendments that such a Convention might take up as well as questions to consider about how such a convention, once called, might play out. For his part, however, Mr. Lubunski actually outlines a process by which the American people could call for and cause a 2nd Convention to happen, something Mr. Sabato leaves for others once a Convention has been decided upon.

Mr. Lubunski also goes through the Supreme Court's modest jurisprudence on the subject of the Constitutional Amendment process and past attempts by Congress to prepare for the possibility of a Convention. Also, he debates the extent of Congress' authority on the matter considering how likely they'd be the subject of such a convocation themselves.

As a conservative, I personally don't care for Mr. Lubunski's list of Amendments which include such liberal shiboleths as abolishing the Electoral College, repealing America's 2nd Amendment right to Keep and Bear Arms, and taking another pass at a so-called, "Equal-Rights Amendment," (ERA). But given Congress' complete inability to control its spending of our tax-dollars the viable threat of a Convention proposing a Balanced-Budget Amendment may be necessary to address the issue.

Mr. Lubunksi's book is a useful resource for pondering how a Constitutional Convention might unfold.

America's political process is broken, dysfunctional, unhealthy, and this excellent book nicely exposes this reality. The author takes excellent aim at serious flaws including the overly complex electoral college method of electing presidents as well as important issues such as term limits. This book is a welcome addition to a small cadre of books by top thinkers, including Sanford Levinson, Larry Sabato, Dana D. Nelson, Benjamin Ginsberg, Lawrence Lessig, and others who have taken a good long sober look at American politics, shaken their heads, and suggest it is time for substantive reform.

Thomas W. Sulcer
author of "The Second Constitution of the United States"
(free on web -- google title above + sulcer)

Some great stuff in here about Americas problems, with meaningful statistics and a true insider understandig of how the political system actually works. But at other times logic flawed and some solutions absurdly liberal--like abolishing the 2nd amendment. No, I'm not a gun nut, but I shudder to think how few freedoms we would have if the 2nd amendment didn't exist. Nor did I just summarily say anything not consistent with my philosophy is gobleygook. But good lord, as powerful as our government is, with all the abuses of Bush & Clinton, it is petrifying to even contemplate such a measure. Still, the only real solution is a Constitutional Covention, and this book provides a road map, which is useful no matter what your feeling about specific amendments proposed by the author.