So, in laymans terms, what is your gripe with the 17th Amendment?
It removed the ability of the states themselves to protect their powers from the encroachment of the Federal government. The Federal Government has usurped power from the states and the people and effectively rendered the 10th Amendment meaningless. I believe that the Senate should be directly accountable to the states once again, because when the people elect both houses of Congress, the states’ interests are rendered irrelevant for legislative purposes.
Believe me, I’m not going to kid myself about repeal being a magic bullet. A lot of states probably, by now, LIKE big, overbearing federal government, and if a states-appointed Senate started issuing meaningful legislation to actually SHRINK the government and restore states’ rights, it stands a good chance of being shot down in the House. However, I still think there would be an advantage, as accountability to the states could slow down or (cross your fingers) stop the growth of the federal behemoth, if a majority of states were willing to fight for their 10th Amendment powers.
The principle of the 10th Amendment practically demands some kind of accountability of Congress to the states. Repealing the 17th Amendment would help to provide that if the states are willing to assert themselves.