Senate does not truly represent population

Rocky Mountain Collegian (Colorado State U.) ^ | 12/18/2002 | Rod Rodriguez

[Monty22]

Try as this liberal might, he just can't blame republicans or Bush for this. It's the electorate. It's how the votes go...

If he doesn't like it, he can only blame the population of voters in the USA. It's not like these senators are appointed anymore (except for some democrats lately).

[r9etb]

Hint: The Senate's not supposed to "represent the population." It's supposed to represent a sober and independent deliberative body that is immune to the viscissitudes of whole-body elections. The House is supposed to represent the population.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Ooooo ... puke! Where's the barf alert?

[k2blader]

I used to read the Collegian for humor content.

[dfwgator]

Well spank my a$$ and call me "Charlie."

[Wright is right!]

I b'lieve you're using an outmoded standard for the percentage of gay/lesbian/TG in the population at large. One group had claimed 10% back many years ago, but that's since been shown (no, I don't have a source handy) to be more like 2-3%.

But we still get your point - and I'm amongst those who reject it. The Senate is not meant to be an Upper House Of Representatives.

Michael

[KeyBored]

Hey Mr. Reporter, you've come up with a great idea.

So good, in fact, that we should apply it to other fields of endeavor. Journalism, perhaps.

You, being the fair minded journalist you are and going by the results of the last election, would probably say that out of 100 journalists, there should be a roughly 51/49 split rep. to dem.

What's that you say? 89 of the 100 voted for XXXlinton? Gee, I'd guess you've got some work to do then in your OWN profession - before you stick your nose elsewhere.

[KarlInOhio]

Considering the Senate voted 99-0 to support a resolution to keep the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, I would speculate that most of the Senate is Christian with only one Jewish member.

Jewish people are athiests? You learn something new every day. < /sarcasm>

[Free the USA]

My Senators don't represent me, they are both female and Socialists, I want to exchange at least one of them for something besides a Socialist.

[aruanan]

Senate does not truly represent population

The Senate was never intended to represent the populace; it was intended to represent the States. The federal government would be far better off if U.S. senators were appointed by the individual state governors or elected by state assemblies.

[Jim Robinson]

Got news for Mr. Rodriguez. The Senate was never intended to represent the people (at least not before the 17th amendment). The people's representatives are elected by the people to the House of Representatives. The Senators were originally to be appointed by the state legislatures and were supposed to represent the interests of the states to the federal government. Among other things, they were designed to be guardians of the Republic and the Constitution and to serve as a check against the people.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: I just wish I had some boots.

That's what she said when I let her up...

[VetoBill]

Maybe this person should spend a bit more time in American history, government.. especially the Constitution. The Senate represents a State's interest.

If we could only return Senate elections to state legislature where they belong, get rid of this publically elected foolishness, perhaps there wouldn't as much ignorance of this issue as there is.

[Political Junkie Too]

Senate does not truly represent population

It isn't supposed to -- that's the House's job. The Senate is supposed to represent the States.

-PJ

[Tailgunner Joe]

You said it!

[RemainCALM]

I guess if the Senate truly represented the population, 50 senators would have IQs less than 100 (since by definition, 50% of the population has an IQ less than 100).
Oh! Wait a minute! It's true!

[expatpat]

If anyone's to blame, it's the Democrats. They are the party that gets most of the women's votes, almost all of the black and homo votes, so they should have nominated more women, black, and homo senatorial candidates.

[Stingray51]

Not that we should play this moron's silly game but his numbers are way off. His assumption that there is only one Jewish senator is wrong. In the current, 107th, Congress, there are 9. They are: Feinstein, Boxer, Chuckie Cheese Schumer, Feingold, Levin, Kohl, Arlen "Not Proven" Specter, Wyden and Lieberman. And there was Wellstone.

Also, there are disabled people including various wounded veterans. There are also mentally disabled people but they would take too much typing to list.