Questions on How U.S. Democracy Works

1. Why does Wyoming have the same number of Senators as California?
2. After what happened in the last presidential election, why is there no debate or move to eliminate the electoral college and go to a direct, national, popular election?
3. Why can’t we just treat Mexicans who come here to work then go home to feed their families with the same rules and courtesy that we extend to visiting Canadians? Would anyone really prefer paying an $8 head of lettuce in order to block migrant workers from harvesting them at lower cost?
4. Free speech, free expression, separation of government and religious organizations, right to privacy –aren’t these among the reasons al Qaeda hates us? Aren’t these the same things than John Ashcroft is trying to eliminate from our society? Has anyone done a security check to see if Ashcroft and al Qaeda are somehow connected?
5. If this country is based on the argument that all who come here and manage to become citizens have equality of opportunity, then why couldn’t Arnold Schwarzenegger, Madeline Albright, Henry Kissinger or for that matter, Alexander Hamilton be allowed to run for president?
6. Is marriage a legal contract? If so, what right does anyone have to stop any two consenting adults to enter into such a deal?
7. When disaster hits Florida, why are people surprised when corruption and human suffering follow it?
8. Is the secret to leaving no child behind really to prevent any child from getting ahead?
9. Can democracy be exported, or must it be indigenously grown?

Comments

[Daniel Von Fange]

"1. Why does Wyoming have the same number of Senators as California?"

Are you asking that rhetorically? Or do you really want an explanation? ;)

Just in case... When America was founded, it was desired that the big states not be able to squish the little states around in voting. As a solution to this, it was decided to have two sets of representatives. A senate, with two from each state, and a house of representatives with a number of representatives proportional to the population of the state. (California has fifty three congressmen, Wyoming has one congressmen) Since both groups had to approve all laws, it added one filter on making sure that laws passed were good for all Americans.

[shel]

Actually, I was indeed asking rhetorically. My point was intended to be that we've passed the point where states pushing states around is a central issue. With that point being settled in favor of Federalism, it seems to me that Wyoming should not have equal influence in the Senate with a state who has more than 30 times its citizens. Do you disagree?