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Why is the design flawed? We have house that is proportional representation, another that is fixed representation - theoretically the Senate is supposed to rep

by Aloha 9y ago

Why is the design flawed? We have house that is proportional representation, another that is fixed representation - theoretically the Senate is supposed to represent the interests of each state (which is why they used to be appointed by the Governor of that state) and the House is supposed to represent the people of the nation. Is this a bad idea?

wyldfire 9y ago
> Is this a bad idea? It is a bad idea if you reject federalism (which grandparent might?). If instead of a union we are a mostly homogeneous country with a single identity, a single logical state -- then perhaps it doesn't make sense for the States to exist as independently as they do today.
ouid 9y ago
People are the only ingredients of states. You don't add water or eggs. The state is equal to the formal sum of its people. Giving states with unequal populations equal representation is equivalent to giving its people disproportionate representation, which is a stupid idea.
- CalChris 9y ago
  That a Wyoming voter has 66.77 times the Senatorial power of Californian is an extremely stupid idea.
- baddox 9y ago
  Senators used to be appointed by state legislatures, not the people directly. You can still have valid complaints about that, but it wasn't really an issue of "disproportionate representation" any more than, say, Congress voting to confirm Supreme Court justices or executive cabinet officials.
- dllthomas 9y ago
  One square mile, one vote!
- Aloha 9y ago
  Yes. But the needs of a state as a whole may be significantly different than the needs of one congressional district within the state. Consider that historically the Senate has been a voice of moderation to an often much more radical house.
baddox 9y ago
The senators used to be elected by the state legislatures.
CalChris 9y ago
Senators were chosen by the Legislature thereof. It's not so much a bad idea as it is completely inaccurate.

by Aloha 9y ago

wyldfire 9y ago

> Is this a bad idea? It is a bad idea if you reject federalism (which grandparent might?). If instead of a union we are a mostly homogeneous country with a single identity, a single logical state -- then perhaps it doesn't make sense for the States to exist as independently as they do today.

ouid 9y ago

People are the only ingredients of states. You don't add water or eggs. The state is equal to the formal sum of its people. Giving states with unequal populations equal representation is equivalent to giving its people disproportionate representation, which is a stupid idea.

CalChris 9y ago
That a Wyoming voter has 66.77 times the Senatorial power of Californian is an extremely stupid idea.
baddox 9y ago
Senators used to be appointed by state legislatures, not the people directly. You can still have valid complaints about that, but it wasn't really an issue of "disproportionate representation" any more than, say, Congress voting to confirm Supreme Court justices or executive cabinet officials.
dllthomas 9y ago
One square mile, one vote!
Aloha 9y ago
Yes. But the needs of a state as a whole may be significantly different than the needs of one congressional district within the state. Consider that historically the Senate has been a voice of moderation to an often much more radical house.

baddox 9y ago

The senators used to be elected by the state legislatures.

CalChris 9y ago

Senators were chosen by the Legislature thereof. It's not so much a bad idea as it is completely inaccurate.