[BfloGuy]

Thanks for the post.

It's too bad that the rampant populism we have in this country would doom any such attempt -- I'd love to see it, though. It's fascinating to try and imagine the complexion of a Senate chosen by the State Legislatures.

Let's take it one more step and have the New York State Senate chosen by the County Legislatures.

But, back to populism -- I still get into arguments with people who think everyone should vote on everything (via the Internet, of course): true democracy. Wow, can you imagine the budget, then?

[fporretto]

I like that idea myself. Unfortunately, the states preceded the counties historically and are subservient to them politically by charter. (County charters must be approved by the state legislature.)

Really thoroughgoing federalism would isolate the individual from the predations of all but the political unit closest to him: the town. Towns would be answerable to counties, counties to states, and states to the federal government. No government could levy a tax or impose a law on any but the level immediately below it. Poof! No more income tax. You'd see "revenue sharing" and similar inanities disappear like mist at sunrise. And political competition among districts would allow us to determine what laws we really needed for the common defense and general welfare.

I know it'll never happen. I can dream, though.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com