[and the horse you rode in on]

That's the silliest idea I've ever heard. Then they would be even less responsive to the needs of the people. They wouldn't necessarily be more in tune with the state, just with trying to please the politicians in power.

That's the way it was till the 17th amendment was passed in 1913. It worked very well. The rampant populism of the period got the amendment through. That is the real beginning of an overreaching Federal Government. FDR's power grabs were just the execution of a sentance already passed.

[graycamel]

Thanx. It may have worked well then, but I doubt it would now. Oh, look, it's 6 o'clock. I've gotta go!