Repeal the 17th amendment

Started by Hoofer, July 31, 2017, 05:08:23 AM

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Hoofer

Maybe he read it here first?   

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/344275-huckabee-calls-for-repeal-of-17th-amendment-after-healthcare-failure
QuoteFormer Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) on Friday called for the repeal of the 17th Amendment and the return to senators selected by state legislatures after the Senate GOP's effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare died in a late-night vote.

The 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913 and established the popular election of senators. Previously, senators were elected by state legislatures.

Before the 17th Amendment, Senators knew their job was to represent the interests of their individual State.   A brilliant idea, taken away by a popular vote election.   If your job is representing you State's interest, almost like a State Ambassador to Washington, serving at the will of your Governor, we end getting knuckleheads who make a career out of representing a political parties' interest, decade after decade.

Here in Virginia, for instance, we have Tim Kaine and Mark Warner....  who if driving outside of Arlington, would probably get lost in the Wilderness of Virginia Territory - they might disagree, but from their inactions representing the Commonwealth, what's the difference?

Hillary Clinton, former Senator from New York - lived there... how long?  What the hell did she actually know about New York State interests???   How many decades ago did John McCain cease caring about the State of Arizona?

Some states might flip one political party way or the other, North Carolina might have flipped both Senators to Democrats - or the current ones might just as well switch from "R" to "D".   Tennessee another one.   

I suspect, back in 1913, this Amendment was highly supported by the print media - newspapers salivated at the opportunity to create controversy, selling papers with BOLD headlines, interviewing prospective candidates - those days are over.  Media advertising is fading as the new, online medias step in with instant access to every twitter, squawk, and quip from the candidates.  Once again, attention would return to LOCAL politics.  If you want your party represented in Washington, work to get your candidate elected at the local level.

What about TEA and political parties outside the Elitist Establishment?   If the Senator is chosen by the State legislator, State Senate & approved by the Governor, I think you'd still have as good a chance as ever to get decent candidates - it's your grassroots effort to get your guy/gal in there - AND - I think it puts the balance of power closer to the people.   As it is now, if a Senator wants to win Virginia, he/she only needs to win 3 areas, Arlington, Norfolk & Richmond - blow the rest of the state off.   

There is little incentive for these political hacks to care about representing the Commonwealth of Virginia interests in Washington.
Name your state, and ask yourself, does either Senator represent the interests of MY state?  The economy, environment, do they have your state in mind when they voted for or against Obamacare?   The first time it was passed, it was on party lines, this last attempt at repeal was on party lines - but, look at the State legislatures, Senates & Governorships!   Who or what was being represented there, the Republican / Democrat agenda or the individual State's interests?   

IMO... putting the election of the Senate into a popular vote, a Progressive idea to further Socialism by concentrating power in Washington has delivered the goods perfectly.  Imagine your Governor and state assembly calling the Senator they selected BACK for a little one-on-one session to "prepare" for an important vote.   Imagine the POTUS "making nice" with the Governors because he/she knew they had the reins on the Senate!  I'm sure there would be some "deal making" going on, but with the tight control of your Governor on the Senator, whatever deal it is, it'll be with your State's interests in mind.... what a concept!

Quote"We must now return to the correct way of legislating and send the bill back to committee, hold hearings, receive input from both sides of the aisle, heed the recommendations of nation's governors, and produce a bill that finally delivers affordable health care for the American people," McCain said in a statement after the vote.

With the latest vote's failure, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said said "it is time to move on" for the GOP.

"What we tried to accomplish for the American people was the right thing for the country," McConnell said early Friday. "I think the American people are going to regret that we couldn't find another way forward."

Huckabee slammed on Twitter the Republicans who sunk the repeal plans:
"CNN reports Dems will give Lifetime Achievement Award to Murkowski Collins and McCain. Schumer so happy he cried.
3:20 AM - Jul 28, 2017"

Regardless of your position on the 17th Amendment, one thing is Chrystal clear, these Senators have concentrated power and authority around themselves, and they're easily influenced by interests other than you or the States which elected them.   That much needs to be addressed.
All animals are created equal; Some just take longer to cook.   Survival is keeping an eye on those around you...

JasonTarmon

I very much agree that the 17th amendment should be repealed. Doing this is an important step in the return to a federalist government and ironically, restoring the 10th amendment. A Conservative Review article on this matter argues that repealing the 17th amendment is great but it should be put on the bottom of the list after a whole litany of other issues. While I agree we shouldn't drop everything to get this done, having a proper functioning government is necessary to accomplish these other things. Given an opportunity, I believe this should be jumped on.

https://www.conservativereview.com/articles/levin-huckabee-say-repeal-the-17th-amendment-but-what-is-it

Individual

Both the 16th and the 17th amendments need to be repealed, which would allow both States and their citizens to retake control of their Federal government, and reduce greatly its size, along with much of the waste and corruption in spending our tax dollars, not to mention our collectivized debt, requiring State and local governments along with their citizens to live more within their collective means, and with rare exceptions a balanced Federal budget.