Class Assignment: Argument Analysis

Assignment: Find a compelling letter or op-ed piece. Write a brief analysis of the argument: what is the issue? at what stasis does the argument seem to lie? can you determine what position(s) the author is attacking? can he achieve stasis with his opponents given the way he has stated the issue and the ground upon which he has taken his stand?
The article: An Amendment Heedless of History, from the Sunday 1/30/11 edition of the N&O.


In this article the author is discussing a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would "allow the dis-enactment of 'any provision of law or regulation'" passed by Congress "upon the vote of two-thirds of the state legislatures." However, the purpose of the article is less a discussion of the potential consequences of this amendment than an attempt to discover why Representative Rob Bishop of Utah proposed it. As a result, the argument seems to be resting at stasis poiotes, or the stasis of quality, since the author seems to be questioning whether or not this is something serious enough to deserve attention/action. It is rather apparent that he is against the proposed amendment, however, I don't think he has achieved stasis yet. The amendment has already been proposed and therefore needs to be and has already been acted upon, putting it at the level of stasis metalepsis, or the stasis of policy/jurisdiction. The author, instead of merely citing history, needs to have a strong argument as to why, here and now, this amendment should not be added.