I think your second paragraph is the most telling as to why this is unlikely to happen. While I think the Constitution could stand some tweaking and fixes, there is such incredible danger of wrecking the whole thing if a constitutional convention is ever held that I hope it never happens. I think the 38 state requirement would prevent that, but a lot might depend on how long of an expiration date they put on passing the rewrite.

Amendments are a perfectly reasonable way to fix things: that's what they're there for. And while the idea of a balanced budget amendment is admirable, considering that Bill Clinton was the last president to balance the budget I just can't see it happening.

I am concerned about the 2020 census and the way that the current administration is mucking up that agency. At least, as you point out, a lot of current court battles are being lost that try to uphold gerrymandering.

There's too much money in politics, too many vested interests. There was a documentary filmmaker that went to a Tea Party gathering on the Jersey Shore shortly after Katrina hit. She went asking people: should we eliminate Education: NO! The Veteran's Administration? NO! State Department? NO! Aid to Foreign Countries? NO! Social Security? NO! Medicare? NO! And the list went on.

"Everybody" wants smaller government, but everybody has their favorite departments that shouldn't get cut. Makes for a very difficult balancing act.