States must take control of country's direction

The Constitution of these United States has long stood the test of time, serving for more than 200 years as the foundation of the rule of law of our county. Since this document was ratified in 1789, the Constitution has only been amended 27 times, proving that the framework installed by our Founding Fathers can endure the test of time like no other republic in history.

Yet, for all of the strengths of our founding document, there comes a time when changes must be made to allow us as a society to address the challenges of our age.

With the federal government near bankruptcy, growing in size and scope that is in violation of our 10th Amendment rights and preventing our great state from growing economically by responsibly developing our natural resources, the state of Montana now finds itself in a position where we must call for a constitutional convention to amend our founding document in such a way that restores a constitutional order and system that promotes liberty and our economic well being.

Failure to alter our constitution to more properly reign in the power of the federal government in the 21st century will lead to an American government, society and economy that is unfit for the new challenges of the 21st century.

The Founders understood that future changes to the Constitution might be necessary if the laws of our nation are to reflect the contemporary needs of society.  They provided several means of amending the Constitution, including a provision in Article V of the Constitution that allows Constitutional amendment through a convention of the states. This tool was only to be used in time of dire need, when no other path forward can be found. We now face such a dilemma, and with so much at stake, we have no other choice but the change our founding document.  

In preparing for this convention it is imperative to concisely understand what is at stake in needing to amend the Constitution.

Firstly, the irresponsible and unfounded growth rate of spending by the federal government has endangered the financial systems and credit basis of these United States to the point of future un-sustainability.

If it is the will of the federal government to transform the economy and budget of our nation into the decrepit status of Greece or a banana republic, the federal government is well on the path to that reality. Therefore it is essential, in order to preserve a system of financial integrity for future generations that the various states act to find news ways to restrain reckless and irresponsible spending for our children.

Secondly the jurisdictional power of the federal government has grown far beyond the legal restraints outlined in the Constitution itself. The federal government’s desire for omnipotence over every aspect of the states and individual citizens is both unwarranted and unconstitutional.

States no longer have the ability to guide their own economic development as they see fit. In Montana, this means under production of our timber, ore, coal, petroleum and oil resources, leading many areas of the state to wallow in poverty.

Additionally, the growth of the federal government has led to the heinous violation of our rights to privacy, right to due process, overuse of eminent domain and fair and speedy public trials.

The 21st century is a time of great global awakening and coming prosperity for the nations that are able to take a hold of the coming opportunities available. However if the United States continues to wallow in the regressive behavior of over centralization, impotent regulations, tyrannical intrusions and maintaining a nefariously high level of spending, we will then find ourselves living in the 21st century as a regressed, second rate power, that kow-tows to other nations more bold that us, such as China.

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, at noon at the state capitol, Constitutional scholar and University of Montana School of Law professor Rob Natelson will present the argument in favor of the amending the Constitution through a convention of the states.

I will be attending and I encourage every concerned citizen and patriot to come out and publically support amending our constitution to create an America of freedom and prosperity.

Sen. Roger Webb, R-Billings, is a first term senator representing Senate District 23.