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by RandomThoughts3 679 days ago
Sure but the explanation conveniently sidesteps the issue with the senate lack of actual representativity. Even a popular law could easily be blocked by a small minority in the rural states.

Anyway I’m not American. The quality or lack thereof of the US political system doesn’t really affect me. Would appreciate the US getting its act together when it comes to GHG emission however because we share the same planet.
2 comments
tpmoney 678 days ago
The senate has plenty of representativity. Is China or India any less represented at the UN because they have the same number of votes as Cuba and Micronesia? Surely there are a few "popular" items China or Russia might like to see passed that are blocked by "a small minority in the rural states" of Europe?

Beyond that, the states themselves can petition for a constitutional convention. 2/3s of the state legislatures would be all it takes to kick that process off, no senate "representativity" required (unless I suppose the senate wanted to argue that "congress shall call a convention" does not obligate congress to do so. But I suspect that's a constitutional crisis even the most obstructionist senators would be reluctant to take on in the face of 2/3s of the states actually petitioning congress.

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RandomThoughts3 678 days ago
> Is China or India any less represented at the UN because they have the same number of votes as Cuba and Micronesia

Yes, very much so. That’s part of why the UN is not taken very seriously and why the security council exists.

> The senate has plenty of representativity.

Debatable. It was certainly fit for purpose when it was set in place. Is it appropriate nowadays? Probably not, especially when you consider how it impacts the electoral college.

I tend to find the USA political system a bit dubious (I think the same of the one of my own country to be clear and I generally have a poor opinion of presidential systems anyway). Still, the country has been mostly stable until now so I guess it’s fit for purpose.

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lupusreal 679 days ago
> Sure but the explanation conveniently sidesteps the issue with the senate lack of actual representativity

That complaint isn't addressed by empowering political appointees from the executive to write laws the courts aren't allowed to challenge. Least of all, laws which violate he Bill of Rights!

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