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The former president's public spectacle often appears to turn including resistance as a segment of the show. We become like extras who splutter as he thrills his followers by violating established standards. However what if we staged an independent public demonstration omitting Trump aside – or alternatively having a different focus?

Earlier Examples of Political Action

Colonists from 1768 to 1776 established novel methods of opposition against England's policies. Rather than using existing governmental bodies, they opted for boycott organizations including an initial intercolonial assembly without any apparent legitimacy or precedent.

These measures of political theater, however weak, finally led to national sovereignty. After the revolution, framers held a constitutional assembly – ostensibly for revising the first national framework with complete agreement among all members. Instead, leaders operated privately, substituted the system entirely, and changed the procedure for modifying the new constitution to a three quarters vote.

A Contemporary Opportunity for Reform

The Trump presidency represents a massive decline for constitutional norms, but it is also a chance to reform such principles constructively. Similar to the framers, we could form a restricted, by-invitation group – an initial governing assembly – that resisting blue states specifically create for themselves, restrict to their group, and control.

The constitution already provides some authority to support this approach.

Creating an Multi-state Partnership

These selected states would meet to develop a regional agreement by and between themselves, embracing the idea though not necessarily the exact wording of such agreements which the constitution’s article I, section 10, clause 3 describes. They would present officially to Congress for ratification as federal law. Obviously this will never happen under present circumstances, as Congress in its current broken form cannot function regarding significant a new constitution, whether preliminary or complete.

However the goal would be to present a prototype for a different approach of political organization, in a future political landscape, that carries forward elements of the existing governmental structure that is worth preserving, alongside radical change countering current challenges.

A Practical Proposal

For example: New York, California, Massachusetts and Illinois would proclaim a governmental failure. The governors would invite a limited group aligned anti-Trump states to appoint members elected via constituents or the legislature. The representatives' task would include to draft a multi-state partnership, a declaration of entitlements of the people and obligations for member states.

This agreement would divide the funding of such duties between the states and the federal government, if it were ultimately ratified by Congress. It would create mandates that Washington would fund – exclusively for member governments and future that thereafter opt to enter the compact.

A Forward-looking Preamble

The partnership could start with a preamble in which We the People of these several states recognize not only our protections but our obligations to respect all members with respect. The introduction would affirm our duties to ensure all have adequate food, retirement benefits, medical care availability, fulfilling employment for protection during an era of technological change. It needs to specify about the dangers automated systems and environmental crisis. It must demand on the federal role in healthcare innovation and scientifically based medical care to guarantee our quality improves with increased longevity.

Responding to Previous Wrongs

And then the document should include a detailed enumeration of wrongs by the Trump administration, harmful policies, that should be penalized and redressed, and abuses by the supreme court, such as the campaign finance decision, that should be nullified via regional measures ratifying the compact.

From the beginning, the states must invite Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico to participate as states on the same footing and participate the agreement.

The Most Difficult Aspect – Finances

Following is the most difficult aspect – money. The partnership would specify the specific programs which regional governments ought to support and the programs that the federal government ought to support – basically for member governments that enter the compact. The document would function as a structural document long-term, and a financial plan for short-term action. It needs to incorporate a restoration of financial support for Medicaid, and reduction of costs for other forms of healthcare.

An Open Offer

Lastly, the partnership should include an invitation to Republican-leaning regions, and every other uninvolved region to participate also, even if they weren't initially included.

Political Impact

Regardless of what might be claimed opposing such a compact, it might shift Trump from center stage and show a particular norm-breaking courage from progressive forces. It might offer Democratic governments credit for independent symbolic breaking of conventions. More effective should additional regions choose not to join. {In