With a narrow mandate focused on modernizing US democracy, a Con Con with broad representation is the best path to resolve the deepening crisis of US democracy
"In fact, Article X states that, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”"
There are only VII articles in the Constitution. What you meant to say was Amendment X.
"A truly representative constitutional convention, populated by elected delegates from all walks of life and not overrun by political incumbents and partisan extremists, would allow the pragmatism and problem-solving genius of everyday Americans to dominate the stage."
Unfortunately, the majority party in each Con Con participating state would select the delegates to the convention. Consequently, it would not be a representative constitutional convention. Instead, the delegates would all favor changes to the Constitution that would maintain or increase the power of each state's majority party.
"and then further the way we select US Supreme Court justices for life."
The justices "shall hold their offices during good behavior" - not for life. When justices create laws, they should be removed because of lacking good behavior. A major cause of our ongoing crises in democracy is that all three branches of the federal government are exceeding their constitutional authority, neglecting their constitutional duties, or both.
"this American nation can no longer afford to have a presidential selection process in which the popular vote winner ends up losing and candidates only campaign in a handful of battleground states"
I totally agree! But I disagree that the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is the solution. My main objection to the NPVIC is that it can result in disenfranchising a super majority of a state's voters. For example, if a Democrat wins the NPV, a solid Republican state in the compact would have to cast its Electoral Votes for the Democrat. The state voters would be greatly dissatisfied and demand withdrawing from the compact. Also, there would be an incentive for "faithless electors". I prefer the RCV/Top-Two Electoral College Vote Proportional Allocation method as described here: http://fairelectionadvocates.org/index.php/campaigns/campaign-menu
"In fact, Article X states that, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”"
There are only VII articles in the Constitution. What you meant to say was Amendment X.
"A truly representative constitutional convention, populated by elected delegates from all walks of life and not overrun by political incumbents and partisan extremists, would allow the pragmatism and problem-solving genius of everyday Americans to dominate the stage."
Unfortunately, the majority party in each Con Con participating state would select the delegates to the convention. Consequently, it would not be a representative constitutional convention. Instead, the delegates would all favor changes to the Constitution that would maintain or increase the power of each state's majority party.
"and then further the way we select US Supreme Court justices for life."
The justices "shall hold their offices during good behavior" - not for life. When justices create laws, they should be removed because of lacking good behavior. A major cause of our ongoing crises in democracy is that all three branches of the federal government are exceeding their constitutional authority, neglecting their constitutional duties, or both.
"Today, the callers of a convention could design this in a way that alleviates fears of a runaway convention."
The best way to change the Constitution is the method that was used for Amendments XI thru XXVII.
"this American nation can no longer afford to have a presidential selection process in which the popular vote winner ends up losing and candidates only campaign in a handful of battleground states"
I totally agree! But I disagree that the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is the solution. My main objection to the NPVIC is that it can result in disenfranchising a super majority of a state's voters. For example, if a Democrat wins the NPV, a solid Republican state in the compact would have to cast its Electoral Votes for the Democrat. The state voters would be greatly dissatisfied and demand withdrawing from the compact. Also, there would be an incentive for "faithless electors". I prefer the RCV/Top-Two Electoral College Vote Proportional Allocation method as described here: http://fairelectionadvocates.org/index.php/campaigns/campaign-menu