[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

3. The Mass. Race. People were not led by the nose because they are better informed.

And that won't eventually translate into better state legislatures? These tea parties don't protest just the Federal Government, after all.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

“And that won’t eventually translate into better state legislatures?”

You’re argument has weight. Two problems with that.

1. I think a focused vote is more powerful than a shotgun vote. What I mean by that is, we vote for legislators for all kinds of reasons. Just look at the many reasons why we elect a president. A liberal woman might vote for abortionist judges. A person might be concerned about the economy. At what point do we factor in generalship? The ability to command the armed forces? The same with a legislator. He could choose a turkey for the senate and get re-elected anyway due to many local and/or character issues.

2. People look more closely at Federal elections than local elections because that’s where the money and power is right now. That mindset would not change overnight. By the time America took local elections more seriously, we would be finished economically, our free speech would be completely shot, our gun rights would be revoked, and illegal aliens would cross the border for election day parties.

[Jim Noble]

And that won't eventually translate into better state legislatures?

I LOVE the idea of wise State legislators appointing Senators to look after the interests of their States.

The reality is that, by 1900, the State legislatures were already hopelessly mired in corruption and graft. Some legislatures couldn't appoint a Senator for months or years at a time because nobody could make the payoffs.

When you look at the quality of actually existing State legislatures, you would NEVER agree to give them more powers.