Sunday, February 22, 2009

Retrenching From Democracy

George Will offers a modest proposal:

Let the Voters Speak--Nah!

The original Constitution kept a significant distance from the populist notion of letting voters have much influence. The reasoning is pretty good. Voters tend to be emotional, easily swayed by rhetoric, ungrounded in priorities, unfamiliar with the functions of their government, and (as seen most recently) largely motivated by greed.

Unfortunately repeal of the 17th wouldn’t get us back to better government. The fact is that the state legislatures are no longer repositories of rational debate, intellectual discussion and knowledgeable dedicated public servants. They are the breeding ground of the pandering venality which characterizes Congress. That's where the congress-critters learn what it takes to appeal to the welfare-dependent electorate. It's where they learn how to load a stimulus bill without regard to budget reality.

Maybe better would be to revert to the pure essence of Art II, section 2 which describes the method of choosing the President. Conspicuous by its absence is any mention of a citizen casting a vote. The Electoral College chooses. They are appointed by the state legislatures. They are free to vote their conscience. But there is no general electorate involved. Take that Al Gore.

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