Slate.com: on Government Reform


Green Party: Opposes Green Party plank to abolish the Senate

Nader is particularly touchy about the Green Party USA's plank to "[a]bolish the disproportional, aristocratic U.S. Senate," which a few people have cited as solid-gold evidence that the Greens (hence Nader) are insane. "I'm not for the abolition of the Senate," Nader told The Washington Post. "There's so many bad things going through Congress I want two opportunities to stop them." Nader's Association of State Green Parties has a platform that makes no mention of abolishing the Senate.
Source: Slate.com e-zine on 2000 presidential race Nov 2, 2000

Howie Hawkins: Senators for 20% can block bills favored by 80%

The most persuasive argument in favor of ditching the Senate is in Thomas Geoghegan's book, The Secret Lives of Citizens., Geoghegan calculates that 41 senators representing about 10% of the population can block a bill favored by 60 senators representing about 90% of the population. Howie Hawkins, a Green Party USA candidate for Congress in New York, figured 20% of the population can block legislation favored by 80% of the population-but the point remains the same.
Source: Slate.com e-zine on 2020 presidential hopefuls Nov 2, 2000

Justin Amash: For limited government, not total Presidential authority

Amash took to Twitter to express his opposition to Trump's assertion that he had "total authority" as president to reopen the American economy on whatever timetable he wished:

@justinamash: Americans who believe in limited government deserve another option.

Donald Trump: "When somebody's president of the United States, the authority is total, and that's the way it's gotta be."

Source: Slate.com e-zine on 2020 presidential hopefuls Apr 14, 2020

Ralph Nader: Opposes Green Party plank to abolish the Senate

Nader is particularly touchy about the Green Party USA's plank to "[a]bolish the disproportional, aristocratic U.S. Senate," which a few people have cited as solid-gold evidence that the Greens (hence Nader) are insane. "I'm not for the abolition of the Senate," Nader told The Washington Post. "There's so many bad things going through Congress I want two opportunities to stop them." Nader's Association of State Green Parties has a platform that makes no mention of abolishing the Senate.
Source: Slate.com e-zine on 2000 presidential hopefuls Nov 2, 2000

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