I believe he was right because the caliber of the vote has been diluted and eroded. I can't think of an instance where a people who have consented to be governed have wrested power from the hands of their governors without violence. Those in power no longer fear the caliber of the ballot.
At 103, he follows up on 71, 84, 87 and 93 by arguing that a country that is too large will be inhabited by people who don’t know their rulers. In 110, he argues that in such a situation, the officers of government will elevate themselves above the people. This has happened. What would have prevented this?
Constitutional term limits. Requirement to live in and govern from their districts. Compensation determined and paid only by their constituents. Campaigns paid for with contributions from their districts only.
You have written a great slogan or tagline. There is a school of thought that the end of stakeholder franchise in the 1820's marked the end of an enlightened electorate.
I'd like to explore the rest of your reply a sentence at a time.
Constitutional term limits.
Rejected at the Constitutional Convention because of a perceived need for institutional memory.
Requirement to live in and govern from their districts.
Are you suggesting a Virtual Congress conducted on the Internet? I find that idea seductive, possibly even insurance against a terrorist or enemy strike.
Compensation determined and paid only by their constituents.
This is interesting, and it's the first time I've ever seen anyone suggest it.
Campaigns paid for with contributions from their districts only.
Perhaps tricky to enforce when money is no more than bits and bytes on a computer, but it's another interesting idea.
“Campaigns paid for with contributions from their districts only.”
I have been advocating this for quite a while and agree that only those living in a district should be able to contribute to a campaign. I would even restrict it further to individuals.
On the issue of compensation, I hve thought about requiring the use of health and retirement plans that are used by their States employees. I like your idea of including all compensation. I personally don’t think there should be a retirement plan. It is not a job in the normal sense.
The Virtual Legislature is an interesting idea that would take the members of Congress away somewhat from each other and outside influences and more importantly make them available to their constituents. Would this virtual legislature open us up to voting fraud that even the members couldn’t control?