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In reply to the discussion: 9 States have 18 Senators and Half the US Population [View all]hughee99
(16,113 posts)323. The big states subsidize the small ones?
Nevada is pretty rural, and they get .65 cents back for every dollar they send to the federal government. The breakdown isn't exactly "big states pay for the small ones", it's the "rich" states pay for the poorer ones. Some small states are "rich" some large states are "poor". Large states like Ohio and Pennsylvania get slightly more back from the government than they pay in, while some smaller states like Massachusetts, Minnesota and Delaware are paying in more than they get back.
http://visualizingeconomics.com/2010/02/17/federal-taxes-paidreceived-for-each-state/#.UCKFvKOp0vk
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They are not equal on purpose. A popular vote would put the Presidency in the hands of about nine
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#330
The House represents the people, the Senate represents the state's interests.
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#347
I'm not 5 years old, I have choices between liking 100% of the constitution and wanting some reform
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#350
Then try to get your head wrapped around the reason the founders designed the Congress the way
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#353
I understand it, but unlike you, won't defend a decision that called slaves 3/5ths of a person
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#355
I think willfully ignorant. This is at least the second time you've stated that the Virginia plan
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#362
I support the Constitution. A brilliant piece of work, and still is. It's just too bad that you
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#361
It's manifestly unfair and profoundly anti-democratic that a state as sparsely populated as Idaho
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#231
Try reading about the Constitution and how it was written before you make such statements.
hobbit709
Aug 2012
#263
I'm well aware of the rationale for the system of 2 Senators per state and
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#285
Actually, based on your response, it would be a good place for you to start.
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#337
You say 'mob rule,' I say 'one man, one vote.' The current system of 2 Senators per state makes
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#360
No it doesn't. That's why we have a House of Representatives. But this has been covered in
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#363
Obviously, math is not your strong suit. So let me spell it out for you with some
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#364
I live in a reality where the principle of 'one man, one vote' (as
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#368
It ALWAYS has. So I suppose we have reached an unbridgeable logocentric
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#370
Point of clarification: what 'term' are you referring to? Is it 'one man, one vote'
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#372
Yeah, I think this may be the crux of our dispute: what 'democratic' means. As I wrote upthread, I
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#388
Obviously, understanding why the Constitution was written the way it was is not your strong suit.
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#373
I understand perfectly well why the Constitution was written the way it
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#374
It completely comports with one man one vote. We elect the Senators in each state to represent our
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#378
I'm clearly going to have to review my American history (or, as we
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#377
The HoR controls the strings and has been extorting us since 2010. Newt did too.
freshwest
Aug 2012
#217
What the HoR won't pass, they make the Senate reconcile. We are not getting the budgets passed that
freshwest
Aug 2012
#221
Until the Constitution is amended, the issue is completely, totally, 100% settled n/t
SickOfTheOnePct
Aug 2012
#67
Just because you see it as unfair doesn't mean that it really is unfair
SickOfTheOnePct
Aug 2012
#83
You don't have to read court cases posted here, but you ignorance doesn't mean they don't exist
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#161
It's that it's so easy to buy power by snagging small state senators that needs to
brewens
Aug 2012
#81
That just means you have two honest and popular senators. I've heard of this problem
brewens
Aug 2012
#278
Agree. IOW, the house is the peoples' representative, the Senate the more deliberative body.
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#339
Look at the further Amendments, when they were adopted, and what they do.
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2012
#230
It's an alpha release. It's the foundation that's just stable enough to fill most of
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2012
#277
You're correct that CA and ND didn't exist when this concept was formed
SickOfTheOnePct
Aug 2012
#91
Well, I appluad you for actually stating what I've been wondering about
SickOfTheOnePct
Aug 2012
#106
You not understanding/accepting a reason is not the same thing as a lack of same.
FBaggins
Aug 2012
#343
At the risk of a really bad pun, you are whitewashing history, as the issue that
coalition_unwilling
Aug 2012
#233
the current Senate composition is the bad idea here, wanting to make it fairer is the good idea
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#225
So? Did the constitution permit slavery? Did it permit people to be counted 3/5ths?
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#41
What is the point of having states if they are not seen as or treated equally at the federal level?
SickOfTheOnePct
Aug 2012
#135
if our Senate was the same as Canada's it would not be the problem that it is here
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#249
My OP and thinking is that the unequal, undemocratic representation needs reform
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#346
Correct, and I have no interest in nine or ten states deciding who the President will be
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#341
the constitution wouldn't allow laws that give money only to states with bigger populations
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#107
Think about what we take for granted today, which was seen as impossible when it was first dreamed
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#224
Which would give a second House of Representatives. Damn this is getting tiresome.
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#381
I think I will. We've been around the block on this enough. Brick wall and all that.
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#387
Absolutely, the founding fathers never envisioned a system where the states (at large) would not be
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#382
So, you just tell a citizen in Los Angeles that their vote has to count less?
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#118
yeah but in the Senate you want that citizen of LA to count less than a citizen of Wyoming
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#180
if they had 37 million people they would have the same number of House members
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#242
I never said it meant nothing, the least you could do is argue with my positions
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#305
The goalpost didn't move, in my OP I asked for "reform" to address this imbalance
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#313
if you think states are more important than people, then that's your priority
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#134
I would suggest reading 'The Oxford Guide to the United States Government'
LanternWaste
Aug 2012
#281
I've said it elswhere in this thread, and I'll repeat it. The founders were absolutely brilliant
SlimJimmy
Aug 2012
#349
I'd be in favor of getting rid of the Senate period, or making it basically powerless
Hippo_Tron
Aug 2012
#17
i agree with both your points, but my feeling is that education is better if I aim directly at it
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#154
the Senate would be different from the House, with its longer terms and staggered seating
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#24
You're lecturing me and you don't know why??? Wow. The courts said it is unfair.
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#42
Largest state east of the Mississippi river and the Atlanta metro area has over 5 million people..
Fumesucker
Aug 2012
#52
You act like this concept is unheard of...are you aware that we are the oddball among democracies?
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#131
why not? i'm a Californian who votes in the interest of Alaskans and Wyomans all the time
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#178
Since you can't argue without putting words into my mouth, you're done with me
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#216
i want equal power with you, we are both citizens but i have less share of congress
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#241
And I remember reading somewhere that 20 states with approximately 10% of the total US
libinnyandia
Aug 2012
#62
There's nothing unfair about the Senate.......it has a very specific function
thelordofhell
Aug 2012
#79
Right up until they bribed one or two small states to go along with them
SickOfTheOnePct
Aug 2012
#95
Half fair : Half not-fair, but do legislative processes give equal power to both halves?
patrice
Aug 2012
#90
Paine, btw, was a light to Howard Dean and was also part of what many Deanocrats were
patrice
Aug 2012
#100
I accept these criticisms of the Constitution & our government, but wouldn't what to do about the
patrice
Aug 2012
#97
If you want a truly futile discussion, try to get four people to agree on a solution.
Bucky
Aug 2012
#98
Your knowledge of government clearly doesn't go beyond the United States of America
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#136
Did not say that, but then you want to win the argument by putting words into my mouth
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#146
Despite an increase in population from 1980, Michigan has lost several Congressional seats
Kaleva
Aug 2012
#116
2 houses. It is addressed in the House of Representatives. And in the Electoral College.
morningfog
Aug 2012
#124
LOL. Your inability to move on is cute. The EC is, in part, propotional. Not entirely.
morningfog
Aug 2012
#179
proportional representation in the Senate and popular vote elections for President
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#190
The "Wyoming" types states will never give up that power. Constitutional amendment? Never happpen
demosincebirth
Aug 2012
#138
Appointed Senators voted to be elected by popular vote, that was a ceding of power
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#159
Might I suggest you take a brief moment to review our House of Representatives?
Lone_Star_Dem
Aug 2012
#152
You think the Senate is the only check and balance in the US Government? Laughable
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#157
you said no checks and balances if the Senate was not allocated the way it is, which is wrong
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#202
Unlike you, I am not wedded to what Founders trying to compromise with slaveowners had to do
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#215
well pardon me, i didn't realize that i had to write everything especially for you
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#247
California is 60x bigger than Wyoming - completely and totally unfair representation
taught_me_patience
Aug 2012
#171
what is the justification for half the elected government not representing the people equally?
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#197
And DC gets no senators and no voting representatives in Congress, what of that?
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#200
A state is not a person. This country should be government of, by and for people.
ancianita
Aug 2012
#340
so it should remain? slavery was allowed, would you have opposed its abolition too...
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#257
Regional representation is an established and important form of representation
mathematic
Aug 2012
#209
State legislatures approved an amendment that took away their power to elect the senate
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#218
I realize that. You realize the effect of this is to weaken the votes of minority voters...
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#258
as an individual i want to have the same vote as you do, but i don't have that
CreekDog
Aug 2012
#265
"of the people, by the people, for the people" v. "states are people, my friend"
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2012
#272
I would not support amending the constitution for proportional representation.
Skidmore
Aug 2012
#273
So we in the more populous states should be pleased to pay for your rural state?
jeff47
Aug 2012
#302
You in the more populous states are more than adequately represented in the House, where spending
Skidmore
Aug 2012
#306
The structure of the US Government was designed to *PROTECT SLAVEHOLDING STATES*. nt
Romulox
Aug 2012
#322
I live in Connecticut and don't want Texas, Florida, etc. to control everything
Jennicut
Aug 2012
#324
I still cannot believe Rhode island is a state. What, their entire population
ChairmanAgnostic
Aug 2012
#326
The population of RI is larger than the population of VT, WY, ND, SD, AK, DE or MT
cali
Aug 2012
#332