The 17 Amendment to the Constitution provides for the popular election of United States senators. Prior to this amendment the senators were appointed by the state legislatures. If our senators were appointed, states would have more of a say in issues like the dreaded Obamacare.
Most Americans are totally unaware of the implications and consequences of this change.
Briefly, it shifts a large amount of power away from the states and gives it to the Federal government. This change has led to the states becoming slaves to the Federal Government. The State legislature election of the senators was an important part of the founders' plan to divide up the power to keep one part of the government from overriding the other parts.
The founders intended for the totality of states to be as powerful as the central government and the state legislature election of senators was a critical part of the plan.
Note that originally each branch of government was beholden to a different election process. The president is dependent on the electoral college which was semi dependent on the popular vote in each state. Each House member is dependent directly on the vote from their constituents in their districts. However, the districts are determined by the state legislators.
The Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president subject to approval by the senate. Finally, the senate was appointed by the state legislatures. This division of electing power was in no way intended to be extremely democratic; it was intended to keep the power of each governmental branch in check and also to keep state power on par with the central government.
It also gave more liberty to the states and the people than a more democratic process. Prior to the 17th Amendment, any time the federal government wanted to usurp power or inflict “hardship’ or infringe on states rights the senate could be counted on to block such legislation.
The senators were always well aware of who sent them there and who could send them home. Since adoption of the 17th Amendment, the central government has steamrolled the state governments. Some examples: # The states are forced to federal government bidding through unfunded mandates; # Overriding of state laws and regulations and forcing nationwide regulations on states; # Motor Voter legislation; #the previously mentioned Obama Care that violates state laws as well as the constitution.·
Much of the federal incursion into education was jammed down the states. It could be argued that some of these laws and regulations forced on the states are good. However, any good that has resulted from this excess granting of power to the federal government is swamped out by its’ bad effect.
The reader should note that the state legislative election of U.S. Senators had overwhelming support from the founding fathers. They understood what they were doing.
It can be effectively argued that the process of legislative appointment would get better-non political people into the Senate.
Finally, legislative appointment of Senators would make it harder for special interests to gain influence. The American People would be well served by the repeal of the 17 Amendment as it would go a long way to restoring separation of powers and restoring the power of the states and reigning in a runaway federal government.