Reading this, I just had an off-the-wall thought (from an off-the-wall guy, of course!).
Considering its performance as of recent years, I wonder if the time hasn't come to Constitutionally ABOLISH the United States Senate.
We could either expand the existing House, or perhaps establish a "co-House" of Representatives, also elected to 2-year terms to be more responsive to the voters.
The Senate has become an _impediment_ to the Republic. Time to get rid of it, and replace it with a better institution.
Or, just get rid of it, period!
- John
I like the idea of the state legislatures appointing the Senators for a maximum of 12 years.
The Senate used to have a special purpose when Congress was bicameral and Senators were selected by their State rather than elected. But, since Senators are elected by popular vote, the Senate is no more than another House. The US lost something important with that Constitutional Amendment, and it will lose another something important when it drops the Electoral College. Each step increases the power of FedGov and decreases the importance of States. Eventually it will be as Hamilton wanted.
We could either expand the existing House, or perhaps establish a "co-House" of Representatives, also elected to 2-year terms to be more responsive to the voters.
The Senate has become an _impediment_ to the Republic. Time to get rid of it, and replace it with a better institution.
Or, just get rid of it, period!
Better idea would be to restore it to its original mission, as intended by the founders.
Originally, Senators were appointed by the State legislatures.
The Senateors represented the STATES. The Senate was the "house" for the STATES, and The House was "the house" for the PEOPLE.
As it stands now, the system is broken. The gears have been monkeywrenched. Think about it. The plan was to have the States be essentially clients of The People, subject to We, The People. The Federal gov't was likewise to be a client of the STATES -- answerable to the states, and, as a "check" and safeguard, also accountable to We The People.
But, that was BEFORE the system was broken.
Now, the "client" of The States is NOT answerable to The States. In fact, The States no longer even have a VOICE, since they no longer have their legislative house in D.C. THEIR voice has been taken from them, and made into a cheap knockoff of the other legislative body.
The "ship of state" was given two left oars, and NO right oar.
The result of this coup (and that's what it is, if you view it in clinical terms) is that the "client" of the states has now become their defacto MASTER.
If the same thing were to happen on a ship at sea, it would be termed "mutiny", i.e., the crew overtaking the Captain, making him subject to their will.
But, thanks to the miracle of Bread and Circuses (or beer and TV, weed and porn, etc., and etc.), "We The People" have been lulled into a catatonic state, in which we are happy as clams so long as we get our daily fix. Anything else is "politics", and thus, "boring." *Yawn*, etc.
The Romans really had a hit on their hands when they came up with the "bread and circuses" concept. How sad that it only forestalls the inevitable. Hey, don't take my word for it -- ask any Roman! LOL!