Originally Posted by dlssmith

Earlier in this thread it was asked why there are two senators in every state. The answer is the same as why there is an electoral college. Equal representation for each state. Which, when the constitution was written, were intended to be run like countries, independently of one another, but for the national defense and international commerce matters.

A bicameral legistlature makes the process of passing laws more cumbersome, thus slower, which was also intended. There was to be plenty of discussion about proposed laws, and having it all done twice before reaching the President's desk mostly accomplishes that.

We don't hear very much about states rights anymore in the news because with later amendments to the constitution, equal protection, interstate commerce clause and so forth, a lot of the contentious issues regarding who has jurisdiction on a given matter were settled post facto. The creation of the IRS and withholding payroll taxes were the final nail in the states rights coffin.

By the way, until around 1830 or 1840, Senators were appointed by the state's governors. Once again, an amendment to the constitution created the popular election of the senate.

The electoral college is an amazing thing, and as a resident of a less populated state, I consider it important, since I want my vote to count. Without it, elections would be decided by the voting in the large cities, mainly. There has been talk in some states of circumventing the electoral college by dividing the states electoral votes according to the popular vote - allowing them to be split. I think one state does this but can't remember which.

By the way, statistically, people are now referring to red state, blue state, according to the way things went in the EC voting at the last election. But statements of this nature indicate an ignorance of actual voting statistics within the states. People are actually quite evenly divided in every state, left and right. There is a duality in the system, which has always existed - 50-50 for the most part. The determinating factor in elections is always personality and perception of personality. That's why a "red" candidate can and will win in a "blue" state. For instance, Republican (and conservative) Mitt Romney is governor of Massachusetts, one of the most "blue" of states.

This duality that I speak of has existed in our system since the very beginning. When Washington was President, there were no proclaimed political parties, and he thought best to keep it that way. As soon as he was out of the way, the divide occurred with a pent up energy and the two party system was born. The war was on between the factions - one for a strong central government (they won) and one for strong state governments. (You can tell who won by which of your tax bills is higher)