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The Constitution allows for many more representatives. Why don't we bump up that number, to say, 10,000 members in the HoR? Logistical problems? Yes, there wou
by itgoon 10y ago
The Constitution allows for many more representatives. Why don't we bump up that number, to say, 10,000 members in the HoR?
Logistical problems? Yes, there would be quite a few. As it is, any given member has to suck up to moneyed interests, just to be able to afford to become elected.
If any given rep only had to sway a few 10s of thousands, the barrier to entry is much lower.
Positions which are considered "fringe" would have some say, and there would be a lot more room for third parties.
I certainly think it would be a lot easier than some of the structural changes often proposed.
- ericdykstra 10y agoI'm for more representatives for sure! Include a certain percentage determined by sortition, and you might get a representative democracy that represents "the people" better than what we currently have.
- ComputerGuru 10y agoThere is more merit to this than initially meets the eye. It could be argued that the democracy our founding fathers envisioned would, in fact, look like that - just compare the lower house head count to the population of the time versus the present ratio. How much more connected to the government and better represented would you feel when your representative is really just another bloke from your neighborhood?
- itgoon 10y agoExactly! Trying to appeal to millions of people is difficult and expensive. A candidate needs deep coffers, and lots of contacts. Trying to appeal to those within a half mile or so is much more straightforward. That's something that can be done with the help of your neighbors.