THE AMENDMENT KILLER

The author sent me an autographed copy of his novel to read and review:

If you like inventive storylines...this novel is for you. I haven’t read anything this avant-garde since I read Warren Adler’s We are Holding the President Hostage (see my review of 8/17/2017). The author, Ronald S. Barak, brings up some interesting possibilities pertaining to the U.S. Constitution. Article Five of the Constitution can be interpreted to say that it is possible for the governed (in other words: me and you) to propose and pass an amendment without the permission or vote from Congress. At least that’s how the author sees it. Of course Congress sues the group known as the National Organization for Political Integrity (NoPoli), which sets up the next anomaly. But first, let me tell you what the 28th Amendment (the one proposed by NoPoli) is basically about: “Criminalizing abuse of power and corruption on the part of our political representatives”, which seems like a good thing to me. The case will be heard by the Supreme Court and its nine justices (first time on live TV). One congressman tells Mr. Esposito, the lead attorney for the Congress side, “You don’t think I hold public office for just the salary and benefits that come with the job, do you? The real money is in what I make behind the scenes. The parties and the lobbyists who pay me are very pleased with my services and are quite willing to pay me for what I do. I’m just like any other broker who brings two parties together. They don’t do that for free. Neither do I. The only difference is that I don’t admit it.” NoPoli’s amendment seems to be right on the money (so to speak).

Okay back to that anomaly I mentioned in the first paragraph. One of the justices, Arnold Hirschfeld, has his eleven year old granddaughter, Cassie, kidnapped just before the trial starts. While Hirschfeld is in court waiting for the suit to start, he is contacted by the kidnapper (who we find out later is Thomas T. Thomas III), “We have your granddaughter. Here’s what you need to do.” Who is we? The government? A rogue congressman? The man known as Thomas lets the judge know that Cassie will die if he can’t convince the other judges to vote against NoPoli. Would the POTUS get involved in this action? Is Thomas working for him? Meanwhile, NBN-TV is televising the live event with Anne Nishimura as the hostess. She is flanked by commentators, Steve Kessler (the CEO of NoPoli) and Christopher Elliot (head of a prestigious D.C. law firm). Nishimura ask Elliot, “Chris, I thought all amendments to the Constitution have to go through Congress. Have I got that wrong?” Did anybody notice that Judge Hirschfeld suddenly seemed very nervous? Chris says, “That’s precisely why we’re here, Anne. Congress brought this lawsuit because it believes NoPoli preempted the constitutionally mandated amendment process. It’s asking the Supreme Court to rule on that very question.” As I was reading this novel, I wondered if there was some truth in NoPoli’s claim that they don’t need Congress’s permission to pass an amendment. Anyway, The third quirk in this novel is a doozy!

Alright, we have an amendment passed by the people that is being challenged by Congress in the Supreme Court, and a kidnapping of one of the Supreme Court judge’s granddaughter in progress. What other oddity does this novel have? Well, if you don’t trust the kidnapper, what do you do? What I mean is: What if the Judge gets the other judges to vote his and the kidnapper’s way, but the kidnapper (Thomas) doesn’t let Cassie go? Will he kill her anyway? So the author came up with a great solution. A kidnapping escrow account! Yes, turn over Cassie to a trusted third party. If Judge Hirschfeld gets the other justices to vote against NoPoli, then the third party gives Cassie back to her parents. If Judge Hirschfeld fails to sway the vote...Cassie goes back to the kidnappers...to be killed? Wow, what a possibility. Has that ever happened? Maybe. When the son of American hero Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped in 1932 by Bruno Hauptmann; a Bronx personality, John Condon, offered $1,000 for the kidnapper to turn the baby over to a Catholic priest (a third party). But sadly, the child was killed by Hauptmann before that arrangement could be finalized. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed Ronald S. Barak’s innovative and completely original novel. Great job!

RATING: 5 out of 5 stars

Comment: The author loosely interpreted Article Five of the U.S. Constitution in order to come up with his storyline. Article Five describes the process whereby the Constitution, the nation’s frame of government, may be altered. I will print the contents of Article Five below. See if you can identify a phrase in the text that gave Ronald S. Barak the idea that the Constitution could be amended without Congressional approval.

                                                      The Text:

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

Wow, that was all in one sentence! I guess lawyers can debate the Article’s intention.