Blue States Could Collaborate to Declare an Emergency. This is The Way.
Trump's public theatre frequently appears to turn including resistance into part of the circus. We are similar to extras responding as he excites his base by violating traditional standards. However what if we produced an independent symbolic action excluding Trump out – or at least with an alternative emphasis?
Earlier Examples of Political Resistance
Colonists from 1768 to 1776 created new methods of protest against England's crackdown. Instead of using conventional governmental bodies, they opted for non-importation committees and even an initial intercolonial assembly without any obvious legitimacy or historical model.
Those actions of public demonstration, despite limitations, eventually resulted in national sovereignty. After the conflict, American leaders convened a constitutional assembly – officially to modify the Articles of Confederation requiring complete agreement from all states. However, the framers worked in secret, overhauled the articles altogether, and changed the process to amend the updated system to a supermajority requirement.
A Current Possibility for Change
The Trump presidency marks a massive regression to constitutional standards, yet it also presents an opportunity to change such principles for the better. Following the example of the framers, we should create a selective, invitation-only group – an initial constitutional convention – which resisting Democratic states solely establish autonomously, restrict to their group, and manage.
The constitution includes certain provisions for doing so.
Developing an Regional Agreement
The involved regions could convene to propose a multi-state partnership between themselves, in the spirit if not the exact wording of the compacts which the national charter's interstate agreement clause outlines. These states could present officially to national representatives for approval as federal law. Obviously this will never happen under present circumstances, as Congress as currently dysfunctional cannot function for any substantial systemic change, embryonic or not.
However the goal is to put forward a model for a new type of political organization, for a post-Trump country, that preserves part of the present political system with enduring value, alongside substantial transformation addressing the previous administration.
A Specific Proposal
As an illustration: New York, California, Massachusetts and Illinois could declare a national emergency. Regional leaders might assemble a select number of similar-minded anti-Trump governments to send delegates chosen either by popular vote or the legislature. The representatives' task would be to draft a multi-state partnership, a proclamation of rights of citizens and obligations for member states.
The partnership would allocate the funding of such duties to member governments and Washington, if it were ultimately ratified by the legislature. It would create mandates that national authorities would resource – just for those states and any other that thereafter decide to join the partnership.
An Inspirational Preamble
The partnership would open with a statement where The citizens of these several states affirm not only our protections but also our responsibilities to respect all members with respect. The statement would recognize our duties to guarantee everyone receives adequate food, social security, access to healthcare, fulfilling employment for protection during an era of technological change. It needs to specify about the risks artificial intelligence and climate change. It should insist on Washington's duty in healthcare innovation and evidence-driven medical care to guarantee we live better with extended healthspans.
Confronting Past Violations
Additionally there should follow a comprehensive catalog of violations during the last presidency, damaging actions, that deserve addressed and remedied, and violations from the judicial branch, such as Citizens United, that ought to be voided by states implementing the partnership.
From the beginning, the states ought to incorporate DC and Puerto Rico to engage as states with equal standing and participate the partnership.
The Hardest Aspect – Funding
Next involves the most difficult aspect – finances. This agreement would set out designated projects that member states should fund and initiatives which national authorities should fund – at least for member governments that enter this agreement. The document would serve as both a structural document long-term, and a funding proposal for short-term action. It needs to incorporate a reinstatement of funding for Medicaid, and lowering of payments for alternative models health services.
An Open Offer
Ultimately, the compact must incorporate an offer to conservative states, and any further non-participating state to enter as well, although they weren't originally invited.
Strategic Consequences
Regardless of what could be argued against such a compact, it would push the former president from center stage and demonstrate a specific tradition-defying boldness from progressive forces. It would give progressive regions acknowledgment for their own meaningful challenging of the pottery. Even better should additional regions decline to participate. {In
