So it's sheer existence justifies itself? Are you even trying? — StreetlightX
The way I look at it is that if the EU formed a similar union of state countries, then a Senate would be a way for smaller European countries to offset the major influence of countries like Germany, otherwise, Germany and France are dominating policy. — Marchesk
So you're saying if there wasn't an institution of slavery, there would have been no Senate? That the founders created the senate solely on behalf of the slave holders? — Marchesk
Weather or not the US is or is not a union of states says nothing to whether the current set-up of state representation is democratically representative. — StreetlightX
Weather or not the US is or is not a union of states says nothing to whether the current set-up of state representation is democratically representative.
You may as well argue that because The Soviet Union was a union of Soviets, that it's political organisation was well justified.
now — StreetlightX
That’s exactly the reason for the Senate and the electoral college. — Noah Te Stroete
but it has nothing to do with the OP. It’s a distraction. — Noah Te Stroete
use the Founders words to settle this. — Marchesk
So the OP seems to be arguing that undemocratic political institutions are bad. That would be more appropriate for a philosophical discussion than arguing over history or politics. — Marchesk
This was supposed to be a political philosophy thread. — Noah Te Stroete
So what would be the ideal setup of the US government? Abolish the Senate and the House takes over both roles. Abolish the Electoral College. Get rid of the states ratifying amendments.
Would that work? — Marchesk
Fine, it's not democratically representative of the population. That's the House. Next question is whether all political institutions should be democratically representative — Marchesk
The question of the OP is in the title. Seems like we both agree the answer is in the affirmative. — StreetlightX
free people aren’t truly free if the government isn’t accountable to them. I don’t believe that the Senate is accountable to the majority of the US population. — Noah Te Stroete
The argument would need to be that the Senate is anti-democratic in a way that's bad for governing, unlike the other anti-democratic parts of US government. — Marchesk
As for the semantic dodge that the US is a republic and functions as a representative democracy, well, the whole point is that the senate is unrepresentative, and fails even by those standards. — StreetlightX
If you mean by “current demographics” white people, then you’re right that they’re the majority. You’re wrong however that they all vote for Republicans. Especially not the women who make up more of the demographic than the men. With women and minorities, demographics favor Democrats. Come back when you get your facts straight. — Noah Te Stroete
Accordingly, the republicans would benefit by altering the current senate election structure (direct election) were it returned to its original process ( state election.) I’m sorry if you can’t grasp this simple concept. — Reshuffle
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