The Second Must Go

The demise of the middle class and the ensuing feelings of frustration and inability to control one’s future have been a fertile ground for such movements as the Tea Party and the various white supremacist and anti-immigration groups. Political divisiveness and orthodoxy have resulted in a paralyzed Congress, where very few Representatives and Senators from opposing political views seem willing to engage in a civilized and mutually respectful dialogue to compromise and pursue a course of action that is best for our country. These conditions threaten the survival of our democratic institutions. While no simple recipe exists for solving the complex socio-economic problems facing our Nation, I believe that a few of those problems can be ameliorated by revamping our Constitution, thus defusing some contentious issues that have distracted us from focusing on other urgent matters. Some of the nine constitutional amendments that are proposed herein are straightforward, such as abolition of the death penalty. Those dealing with gun control and abortion are bound to be divisive, but in my opinion are nevertheless needed. Enacting amendments related to the Electoral College, the President and the Congress will require a good amount of selfless behavior by entrenched politicians.