The educational article on the Constitution by Professor Natelson was ausgezeichnet (excellent). I hope The Epoch Times reprints it once a year or publishes it in a small booklet attached to a pocket Constitution.
As I read the Constitution, the Senate represents the states through their senators. Every state has one state government and that is what the senators and the senate represent, not the people of the states (The House represents them). He also mentioned specific tasks assigned to the Senate. In addition, the Senate has two broader functions: He mentioned one, to moderate volatility and prevent hasty mistakes from the House. The second is to enforce the tenth amendment as only the Senate can.
Before the unfortunate passage of the 17th amendment, states controlled their senators. Now, a senator is elected by the people of his state, but his political campaign is partially financed by citizens at large. So, the question is, who controls each senator now, his state legislature or his campaign manager or his party?
The money spent on senatorial campaigns is staggering. How can a senator dare represent his state government against the encroachment of the executive branch and the controlling power of money? The Senate has become a club of 100 powerful, elite people. A minority demonstrates the ability of critical thinking, and the majority are just politicians.
John Heinl
Ohio
