From: Geoff Tillman (geoff_tillman@yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Dec 19 2000 - 15:57:21 MST
I definatly agree with this idea.
--- Barbara Lamar <altamiratexas@earthlink.net> wrote:
> At 03:42 PM 12/19/2000 -0500, Eliezer wrote:
>
>
> >I was recently musing that the Senate was originally
> intended to have 26
> >members... maybe a few more as time went on, but still 26
> originally. A
> >small, tight group; not like a Senate of 100 at all. One
> Senator of 26,
> >nationwide, would have considerably more prestige than one
> Senator of
> >100. People might even be able to remember who they are.
>
> I think this is a crucial point, although there are
> committees whose
> members could be said to form a tight group--or at least
> they know each
> other well.
>
>
>
> >Maybe it's time to jump to one Senator for every two
> states instead of the
> >other way around. Not that it'll ever happen. It's just
> one item more
> >for the little list.
>
>
> Rather than to jump to one Senator for every two states,
> which would
> exacerbate the problem of centralization of power (which
> has local effects
> similar to absentee land ownership), I'd suggest going back
> to something
> more like the original USA setup where each state was
> sovereign and the
> federal government had extremely limited powers. I'd go
> even farther and
> suggest doing away with all permanent federal offices.
> Instead, have
> citizens of each state elect representatives only for
> specific purposes,
> possibly including regularly scheduled annual meetings.
> Serving as a state
> representative might then be seen as a public service, not
> as a way to gain
> power and wealth and not as a permanent career.
>
> Barbara
>
>
>
=====
"Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master
...Sid Meier
When we turn away from the darkness of
our past to take comfort in our peaceful lives, we
sometimes forget how dearly that peace was bought. But
there is much worth remembering in the darkness..."--Tolkein
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