I find it interesting to observe trending topics at GoPetition, particularly in relation to executive government and constitutional reform.
What has become clear in the United States is that there is widespread discontent, if not anger, with the current status quo. Budget deficits, fiscal madness, bailout after bailout after bailout, and a never ending printing press at the Federal Reserve as Ben Bernanke seeks to devalue, if not debase, the once mighty US dollar.
Not surprisingly, many have called for an end to the Federal Reserve, a return to the gold standard, a return to balanced budgets, and the end of self-serving fiscal theft by politicians and their crony supporters and interest groups.
Perhaps in response, a 28th Amendment Petition was released on Presidents' Day February 21st, 2011. It was published as an online petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/28th.html and simultaneously released as a spoken musical performance by We the People Folk Group at www.youtube.com/wethepeoplefolkgroup.
"Something like this needs to be done" said Rick Durrett, keyboardist of the group based in Nashville, TN. Rick joined the group along with six veteran entertainers in 2010 to bring back the sounds, joy, excitement and activism of American Folk Music from the 1960's era. While developing a new repertoire of songs pertinent to the current times, "people were telling us over and over again, fundamental changes need to be made and those in office will not do it," according to the group's producer, Jim Corrigan.
The group faced a dilemma: a constitutional amendment by 2/3rds of both Houses or 3/4ths of State Legislatures would never be approved given the fundamental changes included in this 28th Amendment Petition. For instance, the sections "No person seeking election to public office shall accept monetary gifts from any organization of any kind" and "Senators and Representatives shall not engage in fund-raising activities of any kind," are not revisions those holding public office would endorse.
The solution is an amendment by Popular Amendment. Although this method previously has not been tried in the USA, the legal status of online petitions is evolving. This petition could potentially become the first critical test of this fundamental right.
"Americans are introspectively watching suppressed people in the Middle East and Africa demand their fundamental rights, and this leads them to wonder about their own rights in their own country," the group's producer said. This 28th Amendment calls for a modernization of voting rights with a turn-of-the-century concept, "open-source voting," along with eight other changes to the Constitution.
Time will tell how well such calls are heeded by the American public. But one thing is certain. The winds of change are blowing and the status quo is about to be challenged by a political earthquake.
Additional information is available on the group's website www.wethepeoplefolkgroup.com.
A Press Release for the 28th Amendment petition can be viewed at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/03/01/prweb5105354.DTL
The petition can be viewed here.
John Pope