Happy 4th, y’all.
Today I read this in an email from Americans For Prosperity. (I got in a heated argument with some hyper-Republicans at their national event last year. I tried to explain to someone how all flags are gangster symbols.)
The issue is the Cap and Trade bill, some notes on the House’s vote:
* Just two states, California (32) and New York (25) provided more than a quarter of the 219 total yes votes
* Democrats in several key targeted Senate states voted majority no, including Indiana (3 of 5), Arkansas (2 of 3), and West Virginia (2 of 2)
* Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, both statewide elected Democrats, vote no
Now, I don’t care about the details here. What stands out to me is just how powerful California and New York are in the House.
I’m really liking the whole bicameral legislature thing right now. These two powerhouses can almost veto any bill not in their interests in the House – and therefore for the country. And they should be able to. They represent the proportional number of citizens.
But the Senate also has to vote on this thing, and over there, each state only gets two votes, which means the bill might not pass. And the bill should not pass. It is a bad bill. It will cost a whole lot, and the payoffs are not going to be so great.
Besides, envoronmentalism is pretty much just a luxury good. The people don’t want that much luxury, especially not during a recession with gas prices inching up again.
Anyway. Bicameral legislatures. Good idea. I mean, if you have to have a legislature, which I’m not so sure we do, but if you have to have one at least make it as ineffective as possible.