>>Ever since prolonged attendance at "the world's greatest deliberative body" during the Clinton impeachment trial, my general line on the U.S. Senate has been to commend the example of New Zealand: They had a Senate, and they abolished it.
Wow!! Look at all the money we'd save
Once the Constitution was amended to allow the direct election of Senators rather than appointment by the states, the usefulness of a bicameral legislature (as opposed to unicameral) has become asymptotic to zero.
But the saving grace is that each state having two senators gives states with large land areas and small populations a substantially greater voice than they otherwise would have. For whatever that's worth.
I therefore vote to retain the Senate, but with a minimum IQ requirement (80, 90, 110?), mandatory retirement age, and a total reworking of the seniority system so that newly elected Senators aren't powerless.
Steyn is great.