Senator, Please Yield the Floor
The 
other day 604 asked why the Electoral College is still a vital cog in our political machinery. It is an undemocratic relic of a time long gone, and it virtually disenfranchises two-thirds of voters in presidential elections.
Today I'll ask a tougher question.
Why do we need a Senate?
Why do we need redundant houses of Congress? Why isn't one set of lawmakers enough? And if one isn't enough, why not have three? Or eight? Why not have multiple presidents, for that matter? And multiple Supreme Courts?
The Senate should be tossed in the scrapheap of history, just like the Electoral College should. And largely for the same reason — senators do not represent their constituencies equally:
If a presidential election is considered illegitimate because the winner of the popular vote is not the winner of the electoral vote, is legislation passed by the Senate also illegitimate because it was passed by senators representing a minority of the population? Wyoming’s two senators can cancel out California’s senators, who represent 69 times more people. Is that "fair"?
It's time to update America's 18th-century political machinery.
Comments
I'll go a few steps further; why do we need a legislative and judicial branch at all? Vest all power in the presidency, say I! Is that office not the only one open to a national election?
While we're at it, let's just scrap that 22nd Amendment.
Where do I sign the petition?
Posted by: Rex Kramer, Danger Seeker | March 18, 2006 10:58 PM
Yes, before the 22nd Amendment, senators were elected by state legislatures - an interesting practice, but like the Electoral College, not quite democratic. So now you have two lawmaking bodies elected by the people. Why?
Posted by: abi | March 19, 2006 02:00 AM
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Posted by: Online Education | June 22, 2006 09:44 PM