John R. Houk
© January 8, 2019
A friend sent a Facebook private message pertaining to a
so-called 28th Amendment to the Constitution. The theme of the
proposal is to place restraints on Congress to insure every law passed for
American citizens must also apply to members of Congress. AND Congress members
will not be entitled to any special privileges not available to American
citizens.
My suspicions arose with the message sentiment encouraged
readers to pass it on if you agree.
BUT WAIT! I just realized I was sent a 28th
Amendment back July 2017. I posted my thoughts back then under the title, “Faux 28th Amendment, Yet Still Need
Convention”. You can
compare my thoughts back then (which I believe are similar) to today’s post
surrounding a 28th Amendment Chain Email.
According to Truth or
Fiction fact-finding there is absolutely no truth to
the Chain Email.
HOWEVER, after reading the chain email you might want to
forward or share the Amendment info to your Representative and two Senators in
Congress on a Federal level. The Chain Email 28th Amendment is quite
worthy as an actual proposal to be considered by Congress or the various State
legislatures who call for a Constitutional Amendment Convention. Ergo, if
inspired, send the Amendment info to your local State legislators for
consideration on the Establishment of the dreaded Constitutional Convention of
States to bypass the gridlocked lobbyist-dominated Federal Congress.
There are two methods to amend the Constitution as listed in
the U.S. Constitution:
Constitution Article 5
The Congress, whenever two thirds
of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this
Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the
several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in
either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this
Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several
states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other
mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no
amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and
eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth
section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be
deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. (Article
V, U.S. Constitution; National
Archives - Federal Register)
For simplicity purposes here is my summary of the two
Amendment methods:
Method ONE: Proposed Amendment ratified by 2/3 of each House of
Congress, then the proposed Amendment sent to each State Congress in which case
if ¾ of the States ratify the proposed Amendment, it becomes law.
Method TWO: 2/3 of the several States call a Convention on a
proposed Amendment or proposing of Amendments plural, then if ¾ of the several
States approve the Amendment or any Amendments plural, it or they become law.
For greater details of interest:
The biggest concern about a Constitutional Convention is the representative delegates from each State may go rogue and re-write the entire Constitution. In which case a battle of ideologies takes place and God only knows if it actually results in Amendments sent to State Congresses to decide on ratification or an impasse resulting in a Civil War.
Due to the potentiality of an anti-Founding Father sentiment
among delegates from several States, I have not looked favorably on the calling
of a Constitutional Convention. HOWEVER TODAY, I sense ideological gridlock
among American voters between proponents desiring more clarity of the Founding
Fathers’ vision and proponents of a transformed America which Secular Humanist
moral relativity becomes a Globalist-Multiculturalist foundation for a rule of
law.
Inherent in that gridlock of vision are the seeds of Civil
War in which winners determine America’s Socio-Political moral-grounded future.
If a Convention can hearken back in a spirit of compromise
that both Left-Right ideologies can live with as performed by the
Constitutional Convention that gave America it’s present Constitution, then and
only then can a Civil War be avoided.
The current struggle between President Trump standing with
Conservative principles on the issue of Border Security/National Sovereignty
and Open Borders/Globalist-Multiculturalists is a mere symptom of how
ideological gridlock could develop into violent confrontations between
supporters of each divergent agenda.
Frankly, I do not have a vision in which non-violent
political compromise is possible. I for one cannot compromise on God’s
principles discovered in His Holy Word with those who look upon
humanity-defined moral relativistic principles of governance. I am guessing the
many-to-most feel the same on defending transformative principles. Only time
and the irony of God’s plan for proceeding to His designed future will tell. A
period of godless temporary victories are predicted in the Holy Bible (via an arbitrary
abbreviated view in the Book of Revelation [aka
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John or Apocalypse of John and so on]):
Revelation 11: 3-13; 13: 1-8, 11-17; 17: 6-18; 18: 21, 23-24 (NKJV)
Revelation 11:3-13
3 And I will
give power to my two witnesses, and they will
prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are
the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the [a]God
of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm
them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And
if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have
power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and
they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with
all plagues, as often as they desire.
7 When
they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the
bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill
them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in
the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and
Egypt, where also [b]our
Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from
the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations [c]will
see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead
bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who
dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to
one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the
earth.
11 Now after
the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and
they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And [d]they
heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they
ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In
the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city
fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were
afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 13:1-8
13 Then [a]I
stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the
sea, having [b]seven
heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads
a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw
was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and
his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his
throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his
heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.
And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So
they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped
the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to
make war with him?”
5 And he was
given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given
authority to [c]continue
for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his
mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and
those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to
him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority
was given him over every [d]tribe,
tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth
will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:11-17
11 Then I
saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a
lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises
all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was
healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he
even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And
he deceives [a]those
who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the
sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to
the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He
was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would
not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He
causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and
that no one may buy or sell except one who has [b]the
mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 17:6-18
6 I
saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood
of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great
amazement.
7 But the
angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the [a]mystery
of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and
the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is
not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to [b]perdition.
And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are
not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see
the beast that was, and is not, and [c]yet
is.
9 “Here is the
mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the
woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five
have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when
he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast
that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is
going to [d]perdition.
12 “The ten
horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they
receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These
are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the
beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and
the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of
kings; and those who are with Him are called,
chosen, and faithful.”
15 Then he
said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are
peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And
the ten horns which you [e]saw
on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and
naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For
God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and
to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are
fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is
that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 18:21, 23-24
21 Then a
mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into
the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be
thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.
23 The light
of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and
bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great
men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in
her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain
on the earth.”
It would be
irresponsible of me to inform you the above described socio-political
disaster of looming godless victories may actually coincide with a potential
American Civil War or even to stipulate today’s political gridlock suggests the
doom of the Founding Fathers’ political experiment of Freedom and Liberty. BUT
in mind, the scenario does possibly exist.
If the above timing is imminent, I have GOOD NEWS!
The same Book of Revelation telling humanity of the
foreshadowing of doom and gloom, culminates with the ultimate VICTORY of God’s
Plan over the rebellious-godless:
Revelation 19: 19-21; 20: 1-3, 7-10, 14-15; 21: 1-5, 22-27; 22: 6-7,
14-17 (NKJV)
Revelation 19:19-21
19 And I saw
the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make
war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then
the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast
and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the
lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And
the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him
who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 20:1-3; 7-10; 14-15
20 Then I saw an angel
coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the
dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and
bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him
into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so
that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were
finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
7 Now when
the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and
will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the
earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose
number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They
went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and
the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured
them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone where[a] the
beast and the false prophet are. And they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever.
14 Then Death
and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second [a]death. 15 And
anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of
fire.
Revelation 21:1-5; 22-27
21 Now I saw a new
heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then
I, [a]John,
saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And
I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of
God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall
be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their
God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their
eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There
shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He
who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He
said [b]to
me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
22 But I saw
no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The
city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine [a]in
it, for the [b]glory
of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And
the nations [c]of
those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring
their glory and honor [d]into
it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by
day (there shall be no night there). 26 And
they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into [e]it. 27 But there
shall by no means enter it anything [f]that
defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in
the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 22:6-7; 14-17
6 Then he
said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord
God of the [a]holy
prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which
must shortly take place.
7 “Behold, I
am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of
the prophecy of this book.”
14 Blessed are those
who [a]do
His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of
life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 [b]But outside are dogs
and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever
loves and practices a lie.
16 “I,
Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am
the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
17 And the
Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say,
“Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the
water of life freely.
Well, after relaying my thoughts on the 28th
Amendment Chain Email, my encouragement to promote an Amendment proposal, the
likelihood such an amendment proposal would only succeed via a States summoned
Constitutional Convention and the potential hazards involved in said
Convention; below is the version (paragraph edited) of the Chain Email sent to
me followed by the debunking as NOT TRUE by the fact-checkers at Truth or
Fiction below that.
Whew! I know, it’s a long post. But I think you might be
interested.
*******************
Sent by Friend on Facebook Messenger
Sent 1/3/18 3:58 PM
Please read 28th
amendment
Please Read, and
forward.
This will only take 1 minute to read!
28th Amendment,
35 States and Counting.
It will take you less than a minute to read this. If you
agree, please pass it on. It's an idea whose time has come to deal with this
self-serving situation:
OUR PRESENT SITUATION!
Children of Congress members do not have to pay back their
college student loans. Staffers of Congress family members are also exempt from
having to pay back student loans. Members of Congress can retire at full pay
after only one term. Members of Congress have exempted themselves from many of
the laws they have passed, under which ordinary citizens must live.
For example, they are exempt from any fear of prosecution
for sexual harassment. And as the latest example, they have exempted themselves
from Healthcare Reform, in all of its aspects. We must not tolerate an elite
class of such people, elected as public servants and then putting themselves
above the law.
I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican,
Independent, or whatever. The self-serving must stop. Governors of 35 states
have filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens
upon their states. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a
Constitutional Convention. If each person that receives this will forward it on
to 20 people, in three days most people in The United States of America will
have the message.
Proposed 28th
Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the
citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators
and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the
Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the Citizens of
the United States ..."
This is an idea that should be passed around, regardless of
political party. Congressional Reform Act of 2017
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a
salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. And, no
more perks go with them.
2. Congress (past, present, & future) participates in
Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social
Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not
be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress must purchase their own retirement plan, just as
ALL Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and
participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on
the American people (i.e. NO MORE INSIDER TRADING!!!).
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are
void.
The American people did not make this contract with
Congressmen/women. Congress made all these contracts by and for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor and privilege NOT a career.
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators should
serve their term(s), then go home and go back to work … not get all kinds of
freebies. Just hold your finger down then hit forward and send it to everyone
you know. Let’s help get the country straightened out.
++++++++
A Proposed 28th Amendment That
Says ‘Congress Will Make No Laws That Does Not Apply to Them’?
A rumor that has
been around for years periodically finds new life in email forwards and on
social media — but it’s still not true.
Claim
More than half of the United States has signed on to a proposed
"28th amendment" to the Constitution.
Rating
Not
True
Reporting
A
forwarded-email-turned-social-media-post about a proposed "28th
amendment" to the United States Constitution pops up periodically as a
viral rumor. There are variations, but the gist of it goes something like this:
Congress shall make no law that
applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the
Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to
the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of
the United States.
The email then asks
readers to forward the message, a demand that should always spur further
fact-checking.
The Truth:
There is no official
campaign for a 28th amendment beyond its being proposed in this forwarded email
(or social media post.) Some versions of this rumor were lent credence by phony
numbers, when they began circulating with the allegation that 35 states have
filed sued against the government while proposing a "28th amendment."
That number is not accurate. States had actually filed suit against the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, claiming at the time that the health care law was unconstitutional and violated the rights of individuals by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties, as articles from 2011 explained:
That number is not accurate. States had actually filed suit against the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, claiming at the time that the health care law was unconstitutional and violated the rights of individuals by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties, as articles from 2011 explained:
There have been at
least 26 federal lawsuits seeking
to overturn the health reform law. In the six biggest decisions, three panels
of judges have supported the constitutionality of the law, and three have ruled
against it — with one major appellate decision expected any day from an appeals
court in Richmond, Va.
Both sides pledge to take the issue all the way to the Supreme Court, which may decide to take up the case as early as this fall.
The 11th Circuit Court sided with 26 states — mostly led by conservative governors and attorneys general — who are asking for the law to be blocked in its entirety. Their primary argument is that that forcing Americans to buy health insurance oversteps the bounds of the Commerce Clause in the Constitution, which allows the government to regulate economic activity. But the decision to forgo health insurance is not an economic activity and can’t be regulated, they say.
Both sides pledge to take the issue all the way to the Supreme Court, which may decide to take up the case as early as this fall.
The 11th Circuit Court sided with 26 states — mostly led by conservative governors and attorneys general — who are asking for the law to be blocked in its entirety. Their primary argument is that that forcing Americans to buy health insurance oversteps the bounds of the Commerce Clause in the Constitution, which allows the government to regulate economic activity. But the decision to forgo health insurance is not an economic activity and can’t be regulated, they say.
Somewhere along the
line, the reportage about the ACA was folded in with this chain email, likely
to lend it more weight and spread it farther. However, the two issues are not
related. The viral posts and chain emails begin by claiming that members
of Congress do not pay into Social Security. As we have previously reported, that is a rumor so outdated as to attain
full "hoax" status.
The email also said that congressional members would exempt themselves from any proposed healthcare reform package. Members of Congress and most government full time workers already have a healthcare package. The proposed healthcare reform began with the purpose of offering healthcare for those not already covered.
For all these reasons, we rate this claim Not True..
The email also said that congressional members would exempt themselves from any proposed healthcare reform package. Members of Congress and most government full time workers already have a healthcare package. The proposed healthcare reform began with the purpose of offering healthcare for those not already covered.
For all these reasons, we rate this claim Not True..
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the
Internet:
For too long we have been complacent about the workings of Congress. Many
citizens have no idea that members of Congress can retire with full pay after
only one term, that they don’t pay into Social Security and that they have
specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such
as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment). “Ordinary”
citizens must live under all those laws.
The latest travesty is that Congress will exempt themselves from the
Healthcare Reform that is being considered…in all of its forms. Somehow, that
doesn’t seem quite right. We do not have an elite class that is above the law.
I truly don’t care if they are Democrats, Republicans, Independents or
whatever. The self-serving must stop.
This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United
States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and,
Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives
that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States”.
Each person contact a minimum of twenty people on their email address
list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In approximately three days, all people in the United States of America
will have the Message. This is one proposal that really should be passed
around.
Other Version:
Subject: 35 STATES SO FAR AND GROWING!
I hope you will all send this to as many people as you can. Thanks.
35 States So Far & Growing
SOUNDS LIKE WE’RE ON THE RIGHT PATH—FINALLY!
Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for
imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to
convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
This is an idea that we should address.
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that passed ... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn’t seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don’t care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop.
If each person that receives this will forward it on to 15 people, in three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States …”
You are one of my 15
And another version with
celebrity endorsement:
Just 3 States short!
This is what Mark Levin has been talking about a constitutional
convention by the states to get back to the laws of the Constitution.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on. I believe this is an idea that we should address.
35 STATES SO FAR…..IT’S GROWING
One message to forward!
Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for
imposing unlawful burdens upon them.
It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress.
Their latest stunt is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that they passed … in all of its forms.
Somehow, that doesn’t seem logical. We do not have an elite ruling class that is above the law.
I truly don’t care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent, or whatever self-serving must stop.
If each person that receives this will forward it on to 15 people, in
three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.
This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United
States that does not apply equally to the Senators, Representatives of
Congress; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or
Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United
States…”
You are one of my 15 (or more).
Please keep this going.
Article Sources:
_______________________
On Chain Email and Amendment Process
John R. Houk
© January 8, 2019
______________________
Facebook Messenger Version 28th Amendment
Chain Email
Sent 1/3/18 3:58 PM
______________________
A Proposed 28th Amendment That Says ‘Congress Will Make
No Laws That Does Not Apply to Them’?
Made
with truth. ©All rights reserved.
