Amendment to change CO Senate from population based to land based?

[.455_Hunter]

What do you folks think about a Colorado Constitutional Amendment to change the state senate from a population based alignment to a land area based alignment?

Essentially, the current senate is just another version of the house- each representative has 77K constituents, and each senator has 144K constituents.

As a result, political power is consolidated along the front range in both chambers. I would propose that the 35 senate seats be roughly equally allocated by land area across the state. Another option would be to assign one senator per every two counties, perhaps leaving the remaining three senators to be assigned to the largest population counties as a second senator.

This should have been done 20 - 30 years ago, and would be very difficult to achieve now given the current climate. It just frustrates me that a hipster in a Lodo loft has the same effective representation in state gov't as a rancher who owns thousands of acres.

Please comment.

[davsel]

Would rather repeal the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

[crays]

It just frustrates me that a hipster in a Lodo loft has the same effective representation in state gov't as a rancher who owns thousands of acres.

Please comment.

I don't think your last sentence conveys what you are suggesting. I understand what you are putting forth in the previous paragraphs, but based on that last sentence, some may be led to ask you: "Doesn't every Colorado citizen deserve equal representation?"

What is frustrating, is that the hipsters in congested urban areas typically have more representation based on the current model.

[SA Friday]

It just frustrates me that a hipster in a Lodo loft has the same effective representation in state gov't as a rancher who owns thousands of acres.

Please comment.

What? So some asshole living in Lodo should be equal to some asshole living in Galeton? Uh, the 1800's are over. You know that right?

[.455_Hunter]

What? So some asshole living in Lodo should be equal to some asshole living in Galeton? Uh, the 1800's are over. You know that right?

You familiar with the US Senate, right? A asshole in Cheyenne has more "representation" per citizen than an asshole living in Los Angeles.

What I am saying is that the concentrated urban groups get more effective representation in the house, and the more dispersed low density areas get more effective representation in the senate. Neither region would have the ability to run roughshod over the other.

I generally pretty supportive of split government, as it keeps the stupids on either side of the aisle from taking over. Leave things in the hands of Democrats too long and you wont be able to own anything more than a single shot shotgun with a 36" barrel. Leave things in the hands of the Republicans too long and you wont be able to buy condoms.

[Rumline]

Would rather repeal the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Ehh, I agree with the sentiment, but I think the current situation is far worse at the state level. At least each state still only gets 2 US Senators. The way all these state legislatures are set up, it's basically like having two houses of representatives. It should be more like each county only gets 2 state senators regardless of population. Yeah, snowball's chance in hell, but that's how it should be IMO.

OP: where do I sign??

[davsel]

Ehh, I agree with the sentiment, but I think the current situation is far worse at the state level. At least each state still only gets 2 US Senators. The way all these state legislatures are set up, it's basically like having two houses of representatives. It should be more like each county only gets 2 state senators regardless of population. Yeah, snowball's chance in hell, but that's how it should be IMO.

OP: where do I sign??

My bad, skipped right past the CO Constitution part of the OP question.
Agree with your post - "like having two houses of representatives"

[Dave]

If you broke both houses down by counties like Rumline suggested it would make more sense. Give each county one or two senators and then representatives by population would be ideal.

[Great-Kazoo]

If you broke both houses down by counties like Rumline suggested it would make more sense. Give each county one or two senators and then representatives by population would be ideal.

Both parties would not allow it. Special Interest and all................

[68Charger]

This would help (not fix, but help) what's really broken with Colorado...As a rural resident, I feel like I am not represented, as evidenced by legislation that increases my electricity rates while not affecting those in urban areas. (as an example)

But I don't think it will ever happen, they like the power they have now

[CS1983]

67258
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[Zundfolge]

The reason why this and the 17th amendment repeal will never happen is that the American people have bought the lie that Democracy is the ultimate good. The people will respond to any move back to a republican form of government with "you ain't a takin' muh democracy!"

I expect to see the opposite, more moves toward "direct democracy" which will end in mob rule.

However Amendment 71 seems to be polling well so maybe I'm wrong.

[SA Friday]

You familiar with the US Senate, right? A asshole in Cheyenne has more "representation" per citizen than an asshole living in Los Angeles.

What I am saying is that the concentrated urban groups get more effective representation in the house, and the more dispersed low density areas get more effective representation in the senate. Neither region would have the ability to run roughshod over the other.


These intentionally represent differently in the US congress to offset exactly what you are talking about. The problem is the state has nothing offsetting like this. Switching it from population to land based just swings the pendulum.

[asmo]

Would rather repeal the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.


^^ this ^^

[Bailey Guns]

It just frustrates me that a hipster in a Lodo loft has the same effective representation in state gov't as a rancher who owns thousands of acres.

I was kinda following you until this. Are you saying someone with more land (or wealth, perhaps?) should have more effective representation than people with less land? What am I missing in your statement here? Because it sounds to me like a great way to give the elite and wealthy a LOT more power than they already have.

[hurley842002]

I was kinda following you until this. Are you saying someone with more land (or wealth, perhaps?) should have more effective representation than people with less land? What am I missing in your statement here? Because it sounds to me like a great way to give the elite and wealthy a LOT more power than they already have.

Hell, I seem to recall some folks on here believe you should have to be a home/property owner in order to vote, so it wouldn't surprise me if 455 believes a similar thought process.

[Bailey Guns]

I'm also curious why someone would want to repeal the 17th amendment? You'd want solidly democrat legislatures in many states to "elect" senators? At least with a vote of the people there's a chance a non-democrat will be elected in solidly blue states...CO for example.

[Great-Kazoo]

Hell, I seem to recall some folks on here believe you should have to be a home/property owner in order to vote, so it wouldn't surprise me if 455 believes a similar thought process.

I'm a firm supporter of Valid citizen (6 months) with some form of residency. BUT, NOT THE HOMELESS SHELTER !

[davsel]

I'm also curious why someone would want to repeal the 17th amendment? You'd want solidly democrat legislatures in many states to "elect" senators? At least with a vote of the people there's a chance a non-democrat will be elected in solidly blue states...CO for example.

Move back toward Federalism.
Here's an article outlining the reasons: http://lonang.com/commentaries/conlaw/federalism/repeal-seventeenth-amendment/

[Aloha_Shooter]

Eff it. Just implement federalism as in Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Don't put your ass on the line? You don't get a vote, just sit back and be happy.

[tonantius]

How about you have to live here for 10 years before you can vote and you have to be a U.S. citizen? And make voter fraud a felony punishable by death to all involved.