ELECT, NEVER APPOINT U.S. REPRESENTATIVES

The Liberty Committee ^ | February 10, 2004 | Liberty Committee

[TKDietz]

These are interesting points the two of you bring up. I didn't even know there was a movement to repeal the 17th Amendment. I haven't really thought about it but I am for doing things that return power to the states. I see the power grab the feds have made over time as a real problem.

[Celtman]

If some terrorist drives a truck with an A-bomb into the Capital, while the full House is in session, would someone please explain how government goes on?

      Quite well, thank you.  The executive and judicial branches would still be in place, and defense is an executive functions.  Replacing judges?  That's not working too well with congress in session.  As inquest pointed out, we don't need a congress in continuous session. 
      Somewhere along the line, it bacame accepted that the only job of a legislature is to pass new laws.  We have quite enough on the books already. 

[Celtman]

My understanding is that the members of the Senate are representatives of the states ...

      That was the original idea.

[fatima]

Bump for read.

[graycamel]

The founders were usually but not always right.

[graycamel]

My understanding is that the members of the Senate are representatives of the states, not the people, and that the members of the House of Representatives represent the people.

It was originally a compromise between "small" New Jersey and "large" Virginia, which today are reversed in population.

Its possible that we opened a Pandora's Box when we started the direct election of Senators. Just look at the character (or lack of it) of the senators for whom the people have voted. The composition of the U.S. Senate today is frightening.

This is a non sequitir argument. The character would have been just as atrocious if the legislators or governors had elected them.

[templar]

As for me and my family, we will defend the US Constitution.

Ummm ... If it passes as a constitutional ammendment it will be the US Constitution.

[Schattie]

Indeed.

[Dixielander]

Touche! You're right!

[graycamel]

Thanx

[iconoclast]

What is their proposal for the "Debt of Honor" [Clancy book] scenario where a suicide bomber wipes out most of Congress? Is it preferable to have all power ceded to the President with no check on him (or her)?

Of course this is the kind of scenario that this legislation is aimed at. This sounds like a Chicken Little reaction to me.

[Prodigal Son]

Do you want your U.S. Representatives to be appointed instead of elected?

The way the Constitution lays it out is fine with me. I would however, like to see the 17th repealed and the Senators selected by State legislature. America was never meant to be a democracy.