Title: My COS story Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/my-cos-story|my-cos-story]] Login Required to view? No Created: 2023-08-04 17:48:00 Updated: 2023-08-08 15:22:26 Published: 2023-08-08 00:00:00 Converted: 2025-04-14T21:26:13.933410550 ---- In October 2015, I signed the Convention of States petition in favor of an Article V Convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution. I’ve been volunteering in various capacities since 2017 and am currently a COS New York Content Writer. Here is some history of why I chose to step up as an activist to help save our Republic. In the 3rd century, after catering to decadence, corruption, graft, and perversion, Rome succumbed to sweet-sounding tyrannical slogans. Rather than reforming their system of governance and weeding out the corrupt populace, they yielded their freedom and liberty. In our republic, communists masquerading as progressives have incrementally steered our Republic to a police state. |   |  **The year 1913, the beginning of our decline** |   | | |{{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/71322/71322_original.jpg?221x335}}| {{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/71324/71324_original.jpg?210x330}} |   | In 1913, the 16th Amendment was ratified by 42 states, permitting a nationwide income tax. For historians out there, you will recall that hyperinflation, soaring taxes, and worthless currency also paralyzed the Roman economy.\\ \\ Prior to 1913, United States senators were appointed by state legislatures. Our Founding Fathers knew that this system was preferable because it made the Senate answerable to the state legislatures. Then progressives campaigned, “Let the people decide.” The 17th Amendment was added, permitting the direct election of senators by the people. Now they are answerable to whom? Their constituents or the lobbyists? | | **The expanse of the federal government** | |   {{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/71325/71325_original.jpg?410x323}} After the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal aimed to help create jobs and improve the economy. This set a precedent for federal government interference in the economy and social affairs of the nation.\\ \\ In the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Lyndon Johnson campaigned for the Great Society. With Roosevelt and Johnson, the United States government constitutionally usurped powers. All of this usurpation and creation of massive bureaucracies has cost the United Stations trillions of dollars. When Republicans argue for fiscal restraint, Democrats invoke fear, claiming that if we stop raising the debt ceiling we will default. Republicans too often fail to rebut by arguing this ceiling is going to collapse. | |**The path to correction**| |   Fortunately, our much wrongly maligned Founders, encouraged by George Mason, empowered us, the citizenry, with the ultimate authority, Article V of the U.S. Constitution. {{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/71327/71327_original.jpg?381x242}}\\ //“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, 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, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.”//\\ \\ It is the duty of free people to monitor those who govern us. Unfortunately, our republic is decaying to the same elements that befell the republic of Rome. Let us return our republic, as North Korean defector, human rights advocate, and bestselling author Yeonmi Park has written, “While Time Remains.”\\ \\ Let’s get our government back in control of We the People. It’s not too late to speak up, stand up, and show up. Join forces with me and over 5.4 million supporters nationwide of the Convention of States Project.\\ \\ Here is what you can do to be a part of the solution. Sign [[https://conventionofstates.com/|the petition]] to your state legislators to limit the terms of office for federal officials, impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, and limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government. Visit [[https://cosuniversity.com/|COS University]] and take our free courses available to the public. Then consider volunteering your time to this worthy cause by visiting our [[https://conventionofstates.com/take_action|Take Action]] page.