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Trump's political drama frequently appears to turn even opposition as a segment of the performance. We are similar to extras who splutter as he excites his supporters by violating long-standing principles. But what if we staged our own symbolic action excluding Trump aside – or alternatively with a different priority?

Historical Models of Political Resistance

Revolutionaries during the pre-Revolution era created innovative types of resistance against British crackdown. Rather than employing existing governmental bodies, they selected trade resistance groups including a first continental congress with no apparent authorization or historical model.

Those actions of symbolic defiance, despite limitations, finally resulted in a new nation. After the revolution, founders held a convention – officially to modify the first national framework with consensus by every state. However, the framers worked in secret, replaced the articles completely, and modified the process to amend the replacement framework to a 75% threshold.

A Contemporary Chance for Reform

That political era constitutes a significant regression for democratic principles, however it offers a chance to improve such principles for the better. Similar to the founders, we could create a restricted, exclusive assembly – a preliminary governing assembly – which opposing Democratic states specifically establish for themselves, confine to their group, and manage.

The national framework contains certain provisions to support this approach.

Proposing an Interstate Compact

These selected governments could convene to draft a multi-state partnership between participating members, embracing the idea if not the precise language of such agreements which the constitution’s article I, section 10, clause 3 references. These states could present officially to Congress to adopt as binding policy. Obviously this will never happen in this case, since the legislature as currently dysfunctional cannot function regarding significant systemic change, whether preliminary or complete.

But the goal would be to present a prototype for an alternative form to governance, following the current era, that maintains elements of the current governmental structure that remains functional, together with radical change addressing the previous administration.

A Practical Scenario

Consider this: Multiple Democratic-leaning regions could declare a national emergency. State executives might assemble a select number aligned opposing states to select members chosen either by popular vote or the legislature. The delegates’ job would include to draw up a regional agreement, a statement of protections for residents and obligations of the participating governments.

The partnership would allocate the funding of those obligations among participating regions and national authorities, should it be somehow adopted by the legislature. It would create obligations that national authorities would resource – just for participating regions and future that later choose to participate the partnership.

A Visionary Opening

That compact could start with a statement where The citizens of these several states acknowledge not only our protections and our duties to engage each other with dignity. The preamble would recognize our responsibilities to provide each person obtains food security, social protection, health services, productive jobs as security during an era of digital transformation. It needs to specify concerning the dangers automated systems and a warming planet. It should insist on national responsibility in scientific advancement and evidence-driven public health to ensure our quality improves and longer lives.

Confronting Previous Abuses

And then the document should include a comprehensive catalog of wrongs from the previous government, harmful policies, that should be addressed and remedied, and violations by the supreme court, including Citizens United, which must be overturned via regional measures implementing this agreement.

From the beginning, the states should also include DC and the territory to join as full members with equal standing and sign on the agreement.

The Most Challenging Aspect – Money

Next involves the biggest challenge – finances. This agreement would set out the specific programs that member states should fund and those that Washington should fund – at least for the states that join the compact. The document would function as a constitution for the ages, and a funding proposal for the next fiscal year. It needs to incorporate a renewal of funding for healthcare programs, and decreasing of costs for additional types health services.

An Inclusive Opportunity

Lastly, the compact ought to contain an invitation to conservative states, and every other non-participating region to enter too, despite they hadn't been originally invited.

Political Impact

Whatever might be claimed opposing this approach, it could move Trump from center stage and show a particular norm-breaking boldness from Democratic allies. It could provide the blue states credit for their own meaningful challenging of conventions. Even better should additional regions decline to participate. {In