LETTERS: TIME FOR A-TEAMS

To the editor:

Santa Claus will never give us better government. He cannot. Although a good thing to hope for, reform is something we must work to give ourselves. No one can do this work alone. Good government takes a team. We have one.

We can best reform our federal government by formally amending our Constitution. All we do is agree to amend and then focus on the subject. Politics will do the rest, if assisted by our A-teams.

What's an A-team? "A" stands for amendments to the Constitution. Every voter is a player, coach and owner-leader of a team. Each team is the smallest political unit in our army of democracy. Although it is only one handful of people, an A-team is the most powerful political force in America.

Most all A-teams have six members: each one of us, plus our five legislators (two state and three federal).

Formally amending our Constitution is a legislative power. No president, no governor, no high court nor political party has the official power to propose or ratify formal amendments. This power is ours. We use it through our A-teams.

Supporting, upholding and defending our Constitution is the first duty of every citizen, especially legislators who are sworn to these actions. Calling for formal amendments which could improve our government is everyone's job. If we are ever to have a government that never again shuts down regardless of who is in power, if we are to have a line-item veto for our presidents, a balanced budget for us, term limits for Congress, a real job for our vice presidents or any number of other good, basic reforms, we must amend our Constitution unless we prefer the alternatives such as the status woe, more civil disobedience or worse.

Since Congress cannot, will not propose a single amendment to the state legislatures for ratification, our states must propose to Congress. Our state lawmakers cannot, will not propose without support such as that from a nation of A-teams.

Our Constitution only abides one political party: the party of consensus, however formed, whatever named. Those of us in the major parties, reform movement and others must cause this consensus to form, at least long enough for the states to make proposals to Congress. Although this method of amending is difficult, there is not more moderate way, considering the alternatives.

What's the fuss? We've formally amended our Constitution 27 times. One more is just another. All that's different here is who officially starts the process. It's time to give our states a chance.

Every voter in America should give his state lawmakers this seasonal greeting for 1996: Propose amendments to our Constitution. We'll do the rest.

DAVE BRADLEY

Jonesboro, Ill.