For Radical US Constitutional Reforms

Trump is running high with the apparent economic boom in hiring (that is financed by heavy federal debts and tax reductions for the very wealthy), and the (false) belief that he has been “totally exonerated” after accusations of electoral “collusion” with Russia.

Trump believes he can win a second term, and he could do almost anything to win. There is also a real possibility that he could attempt to stay in office longer than the legally mandated two terms in office.

Much as Ronald Reagan (during his second term of office in the mid-1980s) had called for a “movement” to put to an end to presidential term limits, Trump could also attempt to start a “movement” for a third term in 2024, if he does win the presidency once again in 2020.

My argument is that Democrats could obtain greater voter support (particularly from Independents) if they promise to make more radical constitutional changes, such as limiting the terms of all public officials, most importantly the Presidency, in order to establish a more inclusive – and less expensive and less corrupt – form of democracy. If Democrats begin to argue now for a one term presidency, this could help offset Trump’s hopes to seek two (or even more) terms of office, while showing that Democrats will no longer to engage politics as usual.

There are demands for significant constitutional reform in the air. A number of leading Democrats have begun to urge constitutional amendments that would lead to the abolishment of the outdated Electoral College system. These Democrats include presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, plus Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), in addition to Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

In many ways, it was Trump’s luck to win just three states, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan by less than 80,000 votes. Winning these three states by a slim majority then permitted Trump to win the Electoral College and the US Presidency despite the fact that he lost the popular vote by roughly 2.9 million votes to Hillary Clinton.