We can work together toward a representative democracy largely free of special-interest money and influence by supporting candidates committed to the public interest, supporting public and small-donor funding, eliminating gerrymandering and voter suppression, and more.

But an Article V “convention for proposing amendments” would take us far astray. It would reflect our factious political climate, providing extremists, special interests and legislative majorities new opportunities to aggressively ply their strategies at every turn.

Given the current political landscape, it’s very unlikely that an amendment to restrict money in politics would be the only thing on the agenda at an Article V convention, or survive such a convention, or be ratified.

We have little authoritative guidance on convention application, representation or procedure, no certainty that ratification criteria won’t simply be revised (as occurred at the 1787 convention), and no authority for resolution of disputes. Let’s not expose our Constitution to that.

R. Elton Johnson, III

Chairman, Common Cause Hawaii

Honolulu

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