Letters: The U.S. Needs A New Convention

The U.S. Needs A New Convention
Editor, Times-Dispatch: The Constitution's various interpretations are ubiquitous. With the enactment of health care reform, the GOP is challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Having barely failed to muster the votes needed to block the Democrats, Republicans have turned to the cornerstone of our government as a last resort.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli claims that "the individual mandate exceeds [Congress'] enumerated powers." While their right to challenge the bill is perfectly legal, Republicans are the latest to use the Constitution's ambiguity to their political advantage.

Article 5 of the Constitution states that, to change the Constitution, Congress "shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments." This unused section of the Constitution has collected more than 220 years of dust. The time has come to use it.

Politically, a constitutional convention would be more important than the recent health care overhaul. While many might say that this proposal is ludicrous, is it not just as ridiculous that after 223 years we are still questioning the meaning of the Second Amendment?

Compare a constitutional convention to the congressional bill that President Obama recently signed. Amendments to the Constitution would deal only with approximately 5,000 words. Contrast this with the thousands of words found in the 1,002-page health care bill.

Unlike the new piece of legislation, average Americans could easily figure out the proposed changes in our government and the effects on their daily lives. Moreover, the product of a constitutional convention would cost significantly less than Obamacare.

The obvious problem is that because this has never been done before, no one is sure what the proper procedure would be. Maybe President Obama, whose name is synonymous with unprecedented, will petition the states for the first constitutional convention. Now that's change we can, and soon may have to, believe in.

Blake Sundel.
Fork Union.

The image reminded me of "The Wizard of Oz." There was Dorothy, blown out of the reality of Kansas into a fantasy world. She was looking to find a place where there "isn't any trouble." She is joined by companions who lack a brain, a heart, and courage; they too were seeking what they lacked. Ironically, the Wizard had gotten to the magical city via a hot-air balloon. In the end the Wizard offers to take Dorothy and her dog Toto back to Kansas in the same hot-air balloon, at least until Toto jumps out of the basket.

On the brighter side, at least Toto was able to expose the Wizard as a fraud, and had the good sense to jump off a hot-air ride.

Most of us who go to the movies can separate fantasy from reality. Sadly, Obamacare is fantasy invading reality, with potentially tragic consequences. Where is Toto when you need him?

Tom Doubt.
Quinton.

The first time I realized that the animals -- specifically elephants -- are controlled with a bull hook (a hook attached to a handle) I was 10 years old. The sight sent the blood rushing from my face and it was the first time I saw the ugly side of this pretty show. I can't ever erase that memory from my mind. I knew that a hook in the skin had to hurt-- no matter how big you were.

As an adult, I now know the facts and what it entails to force animals that are wild by nature to perform unnatural tricks night after night. I would never want my money to support animal cruelty and would not want my children to ever think that hurting an animal or forcing it to do tricks for profit is ever right.

If you care about animals and children alike, please do not patronize the circus. There are so many other wonderful forms of entertainment that can create long and lasting memories for your children. Much better memories than a bull hook into the skin can leave.

Jacqueline Maroney.
Chesterfield.