Commentary by Samuel Strait – April 1, 2022 Most would say the point at which the population began to doubt the motives of those that lead them are when there is eroding faith and trust in that government to do what is best for the majority. On the reverse side of the equation, is that when the majority feels like the loudest voices, mostly in the special interest minorities, and I don't mean race, are the only voices being heard. While this may seem like a rather simplistic description of what happens, it is the beginning of what will become a major rift between those that rule and those that don't. No longer will that growing majority feel like the governing class, for that is what it has become, will continue to speak for most of the people. That may be the start of the split, but what does it take to provoke action and eventual change? Normally that comes about at least historically when government becomes "too" expensive, and the population feels like they are being bled dry by a few government elites. Granted laws and regulation are a part of the equation, but only if they begin to affect a person's livelihood. Most are willing to stand for some reduction in their standard of living by government, but only to a certain point. Previously populations that sought regime change were quite often stirred to physical violence rather than orderly discourse. In the United States, the founding fathers recognized that government could and would become too unwieldy and require course correction to return it back to its intended task. Over the course of the last few decades, legislative power at the Federal, State, and local levels have failed to continue to offer a sufficient measure of trust with the population. Leadership at all levels has become partisan and hardly recognizable as "leadership". Our judicial system has reverted to becoming political and rules in too many cases, not by rule of law, but by political association. Three co-equal branches of government, supposedly separate from one another, yet not so much any more. Leadership influenced not by their constituents, but by bureaucracies and moneyed special interests. A failing of the most common bond of trust between representative government and those that are to be represented. No longer beneficial to those they represent and complete failure to justify the enormous wealth being freely given them to guarantee that benefit. Once the cost of governing becomes too great and moves into the extravagant, the constituents in greater numbers begin to notice that phenomena. It starts with a small group who have awakened to the growing problem of out of control and costly government. Their opposition is muted at first by a compliant government controlled media, until it can no longer disguise the facts. As the message circulates within local communities the discontent grows, until it can no longer be suppressed by media first, then government second. At that point, in modern society, government is supposed to correct itself to the satisfaction of the population. This hasn't happened. The next step is currently in the works with a call for a "Convention of States" a mechanism to reign in out of control government. Nineteen of the thirty four states have passed resolutions becoming part of the call for that convention. Where do we go from here? Clearly government isn't listening to the growing concern over their policies and continues to make choices not in the best interests of the Country. This will likely spur increased efforts to bring fifteen additional states to the table of a Convention of States. Will that convention restore reason to the Country's leadership? One can hope, for the next phase could be armed rebellion, not a pretty picture, particularly for those currently in charge…