Should state legislatures give every county a certain number of legislators?

[J-Mann]

No - my state has 105 counties; we don't need a 210-member Senate.  We've also got counties with extremely low populations, like Wallace County with 1,750 people.  I realize that this works on a national level, but it doesn't make a lot of sense on the county level.  Wallace would be lucky to field two candidates for both seats, while counties like Johnson - with over 450,000 people - would spiral into election chaos.  Our current Senate with 40 members works just fine.  (Republicans outnumber Democrats 3 to 1 in the Senate...we don't need overkill by switching to a county-based Senate.)

Two questions Philip: why do you advocate being a land owner to vote, and how much land do you personally own?

[J-Mann]

Answer my questions, Philip: why are you for this, and how much land do you personally own?

[J-Mann]

I don't own any land.

I'm for this to keep cities from ruling the entire state.

I ask because you've advocated a requirement of 1/5th of an acre to be able to vote.  But you wouldn't meet your own requirement (once you are old enough to vote).  Few people my age would either; I rent my apartment, the bank owns my car...I don't really own anything, especially any land.  That's why it wouldn't make any sense to require ownership of 1/5th of an acre to vote.  Many people in cities, regardless of age, are in my same predicament.

I get it; you want this kind of requirement because then only rural inhabitants would be able to vote, thus only electing Republicans.  That's why it is not a good idea.

[J-Mann]

You would give up your vote in order to take the chance that more Republicans would be elected?  I wouldn't. 

"Cities", per se, aren't running things; the majority of the population is, and that's how it should be.  Cities just happen to be where that population is.  The will of cities doesn't always prevail, either, as evidenced by the last election; Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki have managed to be elected with city support as well.

The county maps for 1996 and 1992 show that county allegience isn't set.  The majority supported Bill Clinton both times.