Rural Bias in the Senate

[Joanne98]

Robret Waldmann

Gang of 6 senators who correspond to 6.5 representatives.

The US senate has an extreme rural bias. It has outdone itself by allowing Max Baucus to empower a bipartisan group of 6 senators to redesign health care reform. The states represented by the 6 senators (Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming) have a total of 13 representatives so the committee consists of half of the senators from states with 13 representatives and corresponds to 6.5 representatives, that is, less than 1.5% of the house and roughly 1.5% of the population.

The 6 are a tad embarrassed by this and say they have tried to take urban concerns into account (that's Democracy at its best -- people counting on the consideration of people they didn't elect). According to Washington rules it is much more important that the bill have bipartisan support than that it have input from people elected by a significant fraction of the population.

Given that priority, it's not all that surprising that they have come up with the worst financing idea ever.

Posted by Robert at 9:54 AM
http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2009/07/rural-bias-in-senate.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. That's why the House of Representatives exists.

[DrToast]

2. It's why the Senate shouldn't exist.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Ah. Another non-reader of Federalist 62.

[DrToast]

5. A US citizen tired of watching a broken government that can't get anything done

[Igel]

6. It's not true it can't get anything done.

It's just not getting done the things that some people want done.

The relevant portion of Fed. 62:

"If indeed it be right, that among a people thoroughly incorporated into one nation, every district ought to have a proportional share in the government, and that among independent and sovereign States, bound together by a simple league, the parties, however unequal in size, ought to have an equal share in the common councils, it does not appear to be without some reason that in a compound republic, partaking both of the national and federal character, the government ought to be founded on a mixture of the principles of proportional and equal representation.... A common government, with powers equal to its objects, is called for by the voice, and still more loudly by the political situation, of America. A government founded on principles more consonant to the wishes of the larger States, is not likely to be obtained from the smaller States. The only option, then, for the former, lies between the proposed government and a government still more objectionable. Under this alternative, the advice of prudence must be to embrace the lesser evil; and, instead of indulging a fruitless anticipation of the possible mischiefs which may ensue, to contemplate rather the advantageous consequences which may qualify the sacrifice."

Some prefer a weighted majoritarianism--majoritarianism when they're in the majority, but rule by the minority when they're in the minority. Rather than focus on the very mischiefs that ensure, I prefer to contemplate the "advantageous consequences which may qualify the sacrifice."

[harun]

8. So effin what if it is in Federalist 62.

What the hell good is having a democracy if we can't change anything, because it all deadlocks?

How can it be so damn easy to go to war under this system of government but so damn hard to do anything that helps anyone other than the upper class?

[Posteritatis]

10. Why not take it further and disenfranchise the population of the inland states? (nt)

[KansDem]

4. But...but...haven't you heard? "Real 'Muricans" live in rural areas.

Palin Apologizes for 'Real America' Comments

Two Congressmen Face Backlash After Their Own Remarks Questioning Others' Patriotism

By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 22, 2008; Page A04

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin apologized yesterday for implying that some parts of the country are more American than others, even as similar comments by two Republican congressmen were causing a backlash that threatened their chances for reelection.

In an interview on CNN, Palin said comments she made last week in North Carolina praising small towns as "the real America" and the "pro-America areas of this great nation" were not intended to suggest that other parts of the country are less patriotic or less American.

--more--
Washington Post

...you gonna get your mind right!

[Arugula Latte]

7. Rural Americans have WAY more representation than urbanites.

Wyoming has two Senators. So do California and New York.

Such a lopsided system, where the red states wield disproportionate power.

[high density]

9. Rural bias? That is the definition of the Senate.

How is health care/insurance reform a urban/rural issue?