What would Jefferson think of our system? He’d love it. In a letter to James Madison on December 20, 1787, he wrote.
I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. When they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe.
He pictured us as a nation of happy yeoman farmers, selling food and raw materials to Europe and buying their manufactures. In other words, we’d be a rich Third World Country. I’m glad the musical killed the talk of taking Hamilton off the $10, because Hamilton did more to make America what it is than many other Founders.
So, yes, I think Jefferson would absolutely applaud the small agricultural states having so much power. As for the “taker” meme, the Red States take way more than they give back. Unless you count food and energy.
Nine months after the election. There is endless ridicule of Trump, endless hand-wringing and attacks of the vapors. There is even talk about what a lousy candidate Hillary was, running on a platform of “It’s my turn.” The one thing I have not seen is any discussion of what is making the red states so angry so Democrats can stop doing it. It’s all wall-to-wall denial games and no admission that those red states have any legitimate grievances.
Well, states get to apportion their electors as they see fit. Maine and Nebraska already split theirs. That’s the easiest way to get a more proportional system. As for amending the Constitution, all you need is to get the amendment through Congress and 38 states to pass it. Think we can find 13 small red states to say no?
