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Letter: There’s still reason to be wary

By Edie Cotton, Vancouver
Published: January 19, 2018, 6:00am

While community spirit was lifted over the Port of Vancouver’s Jan. 9 vote to put an end date on the permitting process for the lease for a proposed oil terminal, the following has stealthily flown beneath the radar since 2014:

• A GOP tax bill that will drive up the deficit by $1.5 trillion to serve the strategic purposes of creating a fiscal emergency that justifies cuts to and privatization of Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

• The sealing of the case for calling for a constitutional convention via the American Legislative Exchange Council (a powerful lobby group), with funding from Charles Koch and his donor network, with the endgame of controlling state governments; some state legislatures are already on board to authorize a convention.

So, at stake are the freedoms we take for granted under the Bill of Rights; the powers of the president (See Article I, Section 9: the Emoluments Clause), Congress and the courts; and the policies the government can or can’t pursue (ability to regulate interstate commerce).

With or without the port’s March 31 permit deadline, the “terminal termination” euphoria is premature. We’re heading into dangerous, unknown territory with such a constitutional convening. Take heed!

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