Winterblues (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-22-09 04:43 PM
Original message
We are no longer a country of Majority Rule
Edited on Tue Dec-22-09 04:45 PM by Winterblues
By the Senate's out dated special rules American will no longer ever be a country of Majority rule unless some Major changes take place. Republicans have shown they have zero interest in Governing and have made it a point to keep any government from functioning from this point on. Filibusters were OK way back when, when they were very rare and used only in exceptional circumstances. Now there is a Permanent Filibuster in effect which will require super Majorities for any and all legislation. As we saw with Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman and any other Senator with zero scruples any and all legislation will be held hostage until they are given a pay-off of pretty much whatever they choose. This is not the way our Government was supposed to run, or should I say not able to run. This is unacceptable and we the people need to demand that some changes be made. Or else just be content with a dysfunctional Government forever on..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7300051WeDidIt (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-22-09 04:45 PM
Response to Original message
1. 51 votes in the Senate can represent less than 20% of the nation's population
I fully support the filibuster for that reason.
I would rather require a 3/5 majority of the members of the Senate to advance legislation instead of accepting a 1/5 minority of the populace dictating legislation.
unblock (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-22-09 05:34 PM
Response to Reply #1
16. the senate was designed to represent the states, not the people.
Edited on Tue Dec-22-09 05:36 PM by unblock
it is equal representation and (aside from filibustering rules and certain supermajority requirements), a simple-majority institution.
simple majority of the states' representatives, that is, again, not of the people.
the house of representatives is "the people's house", and rather more representative of the people, at least when it's not gerrymandered all to hell and setting aside a few diebold votes.
even still, the representatives are majorities within districts; senators majorities within states. it's possible for some group of voters to be 49% of the entire population but if sufficiently evenly spread out, they could have zero representation in congress.
DemonRats are well known for that gerrymandering BS. Just look at most of their districts.
CBGLuthier (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-22-09 04:46 PM
Response to Original message
2. we never have been
And thank god for that.
Majority is quite often wrong and we need protection from them.
stopbush (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-22-09 04:49 PM
Response to Original message
3. We are a country with a representational government that is elected by a majority.
Edited on Tue Dec-22-09 04:50 PM by stopbush
Nothing has changed since the Constitution took effect. In fact, much of what was established by the Constitution - like the Electoral College - was put in place to safeguard against the common majority having the power to tell the vested aristocracy what to do.
We have, in fact, never been a country of majority rule, at least in the purest and direct sense of the word.
This DUmmie almost gets it. I don't think the the founding fathers ever intended for there to be career politicians.
NoNothing (26 posts) Tue Dec-22-09 05:00 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. Not quite right
When the Constitution took effect, senators were not even elected at all, they were appointed by state legislatures. That didn't change until the 17th Amendment.
Unfortunately, I'm not certain that it has on balance been a positive change. One thing you could say about state legislatures, is that they were not likely to be as gullible as the voting public on political matters. Senators couldn't roll them so easily.
Gullible voters are responsible of Lord Zero being in office.
TexasProgresive (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-22-09 05:13 PM
Response to Reply #3
13. One thing has changed
The SCOTUS declaring personhood for corporations. Deleting that decision would be really nice.
Let's delete that pesky Roe v. Wade decision, also, okay?
Ozymanithrax (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-22-09 04:51 PM
Response to Original message
6. Senate isn't the only game, but...
President - usually majority rule except in case of Rutherford B. Hayes (1876), Benjamin Harrison (1888), and George W. Bush (2000).
Congress - Always, except when diebold counts the vote
Senate - Always, except when diebold counts the vote
The Senates arcane rules of order having noting to do with majority rule. The majority often determines who gets elected, but no way do 100 Senators, 435 Congressmen, and 1 President equal majority rule. But that is because we are a representational Democratic Republic. Majority's are allowed to elect peole, but majority does not rule.
Come on !! This Diebold crap is getting old. Present proof or shut the hell up. Now if we want to talk about vote fraud that is real, let's look at ACORN and other DimRats orgs.
