George William Van Cleve

Making a New American Constitution George William Van Cleve

Making a New American Constitution explores the grave flaws in the United States Constitution that obstruct reforms urgently needed for national unity and survival; proposes crucial amendments; and shows that a new constitutional convention is essential to achieve them. Today America is an economically and racially highly unequal society. We are now in danger of being governed permanently by a small group of wealthy people (an "oligarchy") in their own interest. Our middle class is collapsing, and our democracy cannot survive its demise. Large inequities and deteriorating socioeconomic conditions facing poor and middle-class Americans will lead to intractable clashes, weakening or even shattering our union. To avoid such a catastrophe, we must create a new social contract by ensuring that our government is truly fair and firmly committed to creating equal life opportunities and justice for everyone, not just for one elite class or dominant race.



But as this book explains, today the Constitution itself has become a serious threat to Abraham Lincoln's vision of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is blocking reforms that would prevent the collapse of the middle class and create a new social contract. The Constitution is thus a massive obstacle to national cohesion and endurance. The book shows that the Constitution unfairly protects America's wealthy oligarchy. It explores its failed separation of powers and corrosively undemocratic features. The book examines why piecemeal constitutional reforms, such as an amendment to take money out of politics or a balanced budget amendment, will undoubtedly fail. It concludes that Americans have the power to hold a popular convention to renew republican government and avoid permanent authoritarian rule. The book discusses in detail how a popular convention can be held, and presents a reform agenda.