NBC Reporter Wonders How Long ‘American Majority Will Tolerate Being Pushed Around By A Rural...

CPT Adam P. - Since each state is Constitutionally limited to 2 US Senators, no more or no less, regardless of the population of the individual State, for damn good reason to boot, Conservatives who understand this most likely won't be complaining about it. It's called "checks and balances" and as far as every other Country's Constitutions or defining documents go compared to our Constitution, our Framers were genius's. We are not a Democracy which is a lie that's been told to people for many years, we are a Representational Republic, and this is why you don't get "Majority Rules" in effect. Unless of course, you amend the Constitution to do so, which seems to me to be highly unlikely. It's another reason why schools at every level need to go back to teaching Civics and History, which was required up to at least the late 70's when I graduated HS.

PO1 John Johnson - The United States is both a constitutional republic and a democracy and here is why. In a pure republic, the people do not elect their representatives, think of Rome. In a pure democracy, decisions are made by majority vote. We do a mix of both. We use representative democracy that derives its power from the constitution. Checks and Balances are limited by the people doing the checking. For example, when a president's party is in control of both houses of Congress, that president can do everything that the two bodies in the Congress allow them to do. The minority party has no say in what happens. The minority can't even reserve a room in the capital building without the permission of the majority. When I used Democratic, I was referring to the party, not the process. Lastly, I have a 26-year old that graduated from high school in 2011 and she had both civics and history. I have a 13-year-old and a 9-year old that both have history classes. My 13-year-old is learning about the different states right now and my 9-year-old is learning about the three branches of the government. So I don't know where you get your information that civics and history are not taught in school.

CPT Adam P. - Then you should have no problem understanding the Constitution and stop opining the fact that a plurality vote means the majority should win the elections with regard to the Senate. The "check and balance" you simplistically refer to, when stating "when a President's Party (the Executive) is in control of both houses of Congress" exists in the form of the Judicial Branch. Still more genius from the Founding Fathers.

PO1 John Johnson - I left out the judical branch on purpose, mainly because they are supposed to be an independent branch of the government. 2016 was the first time I heard mainstream Republicans or Democrats talking about winning the presidencey to pack the courts. Why would it matter which party is in the white house when the people on the bench are supposed to be independent and non-partisan? But what goes around comes around...

Until you are in the minority, then you will want it to change.

CPT Adam P. - We've been in the minority many a time and no one on the Right has clamored for this kind of change. Must have been a difference in schooling. The US Constitution was taught in schools at least through 1979 when I graduated HS; I remember it well.

No, the founders did not "set it up" this way. Article I, §3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution stated senators were elected by state legislatures. We changed that in 1913 with the 17th Amendment. We can and should do that again.
We are getting near the point that 30% of the population will control 70% of the Senate (numbers are approximate).
I do not wish for the urban majority to have complete control on our federal government, but I don't like to see such a small minority have such absolute control. We have to find a means to balance the system to be more fair to all concerned.

There will be a 2nd Civil War before that is achieved.