A movement

I have been away for a while, for those who are interested, but I have been thinking about what more to say. My book is now published as an ebook, but it has been completely ignored so far. It will soon be a POD book as well, and then maybe I can do some more marketing. I have been thinking of expanding the book into what could be several books on more particular topics, as I do more reading. What really needs to happen, though, is to start a movement to promote the kind of change I think is necessary. I have essentially concluded that the Senate needs to change. To abolish the Senate would require a constitutional amendment, making it practically impossible. On the other hand, reforming the procedures within the Senate, with regard to the filibuster, for example, for me do not go far enough. Even without the filibuster the Senate can still block legislation. There has to be more substantial change than changes in Senatorial procedures. My suggestion, as I have said before, is to change the procedures of the House that would strip the power of the Senate to prevent legislation passed by the House from going forward without its approval.

This would be a direct confrontation with the Senate and its traditional powers, but it is not a constitutional issue. The Senate asserted its power to block legislation in 1806: it was not in the constitution. As such it can be taken away by a simple rule change. To do so would require a popular movement to explain the change, and to pressure the House to make the change. I am not a likely leader of a movement, but this is what would have to happen to make the changes I think are needed. It would require that the built-in bias against majority rule be overcome. Even the Tea Party members, for all their talk of popular revolt against the government, are at the same time against the removal of the Senate as a block to their view of the popular will.