Frank T wrote:
Are you kidding me?
Tyranny of the majority?
What is wrong with you?
From your posts, I doubt that you ever read The Federalist, or even The Anti-Federalist. You certainly haven't read any of John Adams', James Madison's, or James Monroe's writings on the Constitution.
The United States was going to avoid any type of democratic government, constitutional or otherwise. They had seen what had happened in Europe, and especially in England. Pre-Revolutionary War (a misnomer if there ever was one), the colonists had wanted representation in Parliament. The British, in their everlasting stupidity, fought this idea right up until April 1775. Had they granted even one seat for each colony, it wouldn't have made any difference in British colonial policies. There were never enough colonial votes to affect any legislation.
The idea of a bicameral legislature, with the several states selecting Senators, was a stroke of genius. The Founders knew that the larger populated states would always win in a single-house legislature. This also had the effect of giving the states the last veto of a runaway House of Representatives, virtually the same condition we have today, with a Democrat majority in the House, and opposed to the President on literally everything.
Let's say that somehow, the Constitution would be amended, doing away with the Electoral College, and the Presidential election turned to a true national vote. Just how many trips would a Presidential candidate make to states other than New York, California, and maybe Texas? And just how long until we have another secession vote, which would break this country into two, or more, different countries.
There is a solution, however. First, complete the necessary state house votes to call for a convention for Constitutional Amendment (The Constitution can't be rewritten, only amended). At least two things could be accomplished. First, strengthen the 10th Amendment, giving the states real powers over Congress; then repeal the 17th Amendment, returning selection of Senators back to the state legislatures. At today's states balances, the Republicans would probably gain around two seats. Hardly enough for a mandate, but enough to force Senators to be true to their state constituents. Oh, and while we're at it, we may as well abolish the 16th Amendment, forcing a new tax structure more attuned to states' needs.