[ronald reagan]

You would have been wrong.

Marriage, like everything not specifically reserved to the federal government, should be a state's rights issue. Strictly Tenth Amendment. While some states would legalize same sex "marriages", the others would clearly move to not grant full faith and credit to these "marriages".

If you want to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment do it in the same manner as the Eighteenth Amendment was repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment- with a new amendment.

Introduce an amendment calling for a balanced budget and see if it can be ratified.

A constitutional convention opens the door to wholesale changes many of which would be damaging to the Republic.

Make changes through the amendment process or not at all. That's what was envisioned by the framers, all of whom were certainly more competent than are the "leaders" of today.

I feel sure that a return to original intent would cure many of the ills we now face. I am a firm believer in strict construction.

Wow. I guess I should have just been clearer...... I meant this thread to be simply a thread to talk about amendments to the constitution. The title must have thrown everyone off, I dunno what I was thinking. Repealing the 17th amendment would be done by adding an amendment. I didn't know I had to be so clear to get the point across.

And your concerns over a balanced budget amendment... We were 1 vote away in 1994. It passed with the needed votes in the house, and failed by 1 in the senate. The states would absolutely ratify it. They already are under balanced budget amendments for the most part, and the people definately support it. I feel confident that it could be passed. Especially so close, so recent.

I'm also a firm believer in 'state rights'. Its one of the top principles that guide me. But you make the point that marriage is a state issue. Current law makes that clear, DOMA. States already don't have to recognize that of others. However... how does the Full Faith and Credit Clause work with this?

Lets reset this thread.....

What constitutional amendments would YOU like to see added? I dont remember writing the convention part..... I surely meant amendments. I oppose a convention as well. The Constitution party led me to that beleif in its earlier days.

I do however support several amendments to the Constitution, in an effort to stop judicial activism. You can hope and wish for constructionist judges who rely on the federalist papers, original intent, and strict interpretation.... but you'll see and amendment banning HETEROSEXUAL marriage before then.