Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule
For the first bolded point, that is how the Constitution originally established the Senate, but a Constitutional Amendment in the early 1900's changed the Election of the Senate to pure voting. At the time it probably made sense, however in hindsight, I think it has simply diluted the Senate, and created a second House of Representatives. There was a clear and purposeful split in the roles of the two bodies, that now is more or less simply window dressing.
As to the 2nd. Politics is NOT cyclical, this is either a myth, or a misconception. If it was cyclical, we would be looking at slavery coming back into fashion, or other outdated, and illogical ideas. Politics is moreso a creeping ivy. It may curve to the left, or to the right, but it never stops expanding its reach, unless the gardener prunes it.
I would use seatbelts as an example. In the 80's in Md, when seatbelt laws were first introduced, there was a lot of outrage, but it was accepted, just not as a primary cause for a ticket. The ivy was planted. Later the State law was changed, now it could be a primary cause, but still the nobility of the purpose was to prevent harm to yourself, and reduce insurance rates (I am so glad that happened). Now this year's National Click It or Ticket commercial actually de-emphasizes the risk of injury and says, basically, do it or else get a ticket. The specific commercial I am referring to talks of a guy's friend who got a seatbelt ticket, and was an idiot because now he has to pay the fine instead of going to a concert. The point is that it was not a cycle, but an ever increasing, and overreaching intrusion into states' rights and individual liberties.
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