A former design engineer has one request: Sign the petition for a convention of states.
Wally Thompson of El Paso said a gathering of states to propose constitutional amendments is in keeping with the intent of the Founding Fathers. A constitution of states — or COS, as many supporters refer to it — could happen if two-thirds of state legislatures, a minimum of 34, authorized such a meeting.
Thompson studied government at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Texas El Paso. He was drawn to the program because his wife Virginia has enjoyed several classes there. He enrolled in a government class taught by associate professor Alvino Hernandez, who worked at the El Paso Sheriff's Office for 26 years and retired as a division commander.
Thompson said when he saw Hernandez’s class, titled “Oh no, It's government,” he was intrigued. He wanted to enroll to see if he could engage in a COS discussion with people. The convention of states merits serious consideration, Thompson said, although he was unable to persuade Hernandez to join in the discussion.
Hernandez told Lone Star Standard that he wants to get people thinking about and become involved in their government.
“I believe that the study of government is not just important, but critical," he said. "And I feel this not because I teach it, but because government is involved in just about every aspect of our lives. So, it’s a good idea to understand what this driving force is. We should never ‘fall asleep at the wheel’ and allow things to just happen. So teaching government allows me the opportunity to provide objective information so people can make their own decisions about things like voting or supporting certain public policy. I do not teach my ideology. That would be unprofessional.”
Thompson said he is passionate about a proposed convention because the people need it. That is why its advocates are so driven to promote it and add to their ranks.
“COS, as a project, is likely the largest grassroots political self-government effort ever attempted,” he told Lone Star Standard. “It is active in all 50 states with the intent of achieving the states’ convention meeting as specified in Article V of the U.S. Constitution for the first time in history.”
He dedicates much time to the issue, volunteering to promote a COS and serving as an administrator for three Facebook pages. He also encourages people to visit www.conventionofstates.com to learn more.
A COS is one of two methods to change the U.S. Constitution. The other is an amendment approved by two-thirds of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Thompson said a COS would not be an abrupt change of course. Instead, it is rooted in the earliest days of the nation.
“It is not dramatic; it is part of the Constitution and indeed it is the way the Constitution is designed to work,” he said, emphasizing the word “not” in his response to a question. “There is no defined amendment proposal from COS, just the effort to hold the meeting and see what may be proposed along the lines of term limits, fiscal responsibility and limiting the bureaucratic state. Any amendment requires three-quarters of the states to approve it, even a slight flaw will derail a proposed amendment.
He is a Republican who has been somewhat active in the party, but said the COS effort is nonpartisan.
“It is about your country, your Constitution, you can indeed sign the petition,” Thompson said, trying to recruit a new supporter. “A majority of both parties favor trying to save the republic. It is the deep state , Washington, D.C., power complex that likes things as they are [unlimited deficits].”
He defines the deep state a “loose association of centralized power structure persons and institutions in Washington, D.C., federal government officials, financial industry leaders, big business leaders, lobbyists, media, associations, including Congress and workers at lower levels who follow their leader's directions.
“More power to the beltway might be a mantra,” Thompson said. “Scratch each others‘ backs might be another mantra. The usual government solutions proposed, point to more power and control by D.C. as opposed to listening to the citizens or ascertaining the wishes of the state governments. Both political parties go along with this to increase their own wealth and control.”
Thompson moved to El Paso in 1972. He said he was a design engineer in the "military industrial complex,” designing and building radio equipment for the Army, Air Force and Navy. “The creative part of that will always be the ‘first love,’” he said. “I used to joke, ‘I'd do this for free, just don't tell the company.’”
Thomson said he favors a convention of states because of his concern for the nation he loves. He said without major changes, the dollar will collapse and the country will disintegrate.
“Do you agree the ensconced leaders of both parties in Congress should have term limits?” Thompson asked rhetorically. “Should both parties dictate votes to newly elected representatives to vote the party way ‘or else?’ Should unelected bureaucrats be able to write laws by simply calling them ‘regulations?’ The point is a better balance of DC/state/individual powers are needed.”
