Senators, on the other hand, are elected by and represent all voters of their state. When the House considers a bill, individual members tend to base their votes primarily on how the bill might impact the people of their local district, while Senators tend to consider how the bill would impact the nation as a whole. This is just as the Founders intended. [More]No, the Founders intended Senators to be chosen by their state legislatures. But don't take my word for it.
Now if you want to get rid of a bad one, it's a whole lot harder and more expensive to overcome the urban-dominated vote than it is to keep your local rep in line and punish him for bad confirmations. Which is what those intent on subverting things were counting on.
If I ever need to know "about" something, I know where not to go. It figures this was written by a career government worker...
To be honest, I have to wonder if repealing the 17th amendment would make it any better. The urban state reps will still outnumber the rural state reps. Perhaps in a state like California or New York it would be better. Upstate NY could join forces against long island, I guess. I think states like New Jersey would be unaffected
ReplyDeleteOf course repealing the 17th amendment would make things better - as it is now, we might as well not even have two houses of Congress since both are elected by the same group using the same process.
ReplyDeleteHaving the state legislature directly elect the federal senators would hold one half of Congress responsible to the State legislatures, the States that have budgets to balance and manage which have been increasingly screwed with by the feds.
It also slows down pure democracy, tyranny of the majority, by adding the elected members of the State legislatures as a buffer. The Founders rightfully despised pure democracy.
Since we're all wishing here, it would be even better if the amendment to repeal the 17th also kicked out all currently-sitting federal senators to flush the encrusted crap out.
Ellen DeGeneres has the stars of "Jersey Shore" on. Know or Go quiz for Snookie: New Jersey is one of the original colonies. Name the other 12.
ReplyDelete"Um... Rhode Island? New York? Pennsylvania?
"... Um. Canada?"
Another star: Name the four seasons.
"You mean, like THE four seasons? You might as well just dump me right now."
Amrica's most watched.