Posted on 08/09/2017 1:28:17 AM PDT by Jacquerie
Former Governor Mike Hucakbee and Col. Allen West believe it could.
Gov. Huckabee pointed out in a tweet last week that repealing the 17th Amendment, which instituted the popular election of Senators, would ensure that Senators work for their states and respect the 10th Amendment.
"Time to repeal 17th Amendment," he said on July 28th. "Founders had it right-Senators chosen by state legislatures. Will work for their states and respect 10th amid."
Col. Allen West made a similar point in a much longer piece on his website:
Imagine if those GOP senators who blocked the repeal of Obamacare could be recalled by their state legislatures! If they could be subjected to a vote of “no confidence” and be removed! How differently would these senators act? Or any senator? It would certainly preclude the arrogance and defiance of what has become a very lucrative club — not of citizen servants but of those who believe their political position entitles them to lord over us with no retribution, enabling them to become career politicians.
Yes, I believe it’s time to talk about the 17th Amendment, for people to understand what it is, and why we changed the original vision of Madison, Hamilton, and Jay. Our U.S. Senate is not a House of Lords, albeit they tend to believe they are. Yes, the 17th Amendment gave the state’s governors the power to appoint a replacement, until a special election occurs or until the next election cycle. But it’s time we assess the repeal of the 17th Amendment, and give state legislatures the ability to elect, and recall, their senators. I just have to ask, if the 17th Amendment didn’t exist, would Arizona, Maine, Alaska, West Virginia, and a few others be looking to replace their current senators?
(Excerpt) Read more at conventionofstates.com ...
A couple of years ago there was a garage sale that was advertised with vintage audio equipment, a hobby of mine. As I was digging through the vinyl the two old codgers throwing the thing were arguing about which amendment ruined the US. One was saying the 19th, I dont remember the other ones opinion. I got a couple of finds and went up to pay. I told them they were both wrong and went into a lengthy explanation about how the 17th made us a democracy and not a republic. They gave me the vinyl, and threw in some electro voice drivers they had 25 bucks on but are worth about 300.
Right behind 17 is 16, which finances the monster in DC. Shut off its blood supply, it dies.
Now that would be a fun thread...which Amendment has damaged America more? 17th or 19th? As for me? 19th.
Article XX Section 2:
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
Should state: The Congress shall assemble once a year for 2 - 3 days max.
Any longer and they screw everything up.
The 17th created the problem of the 19th. Root causes man. Think about it. Why are there welfare moms wanting Gov bennies. 17th.
My tag line speaks my feelings. Article The First would go a long way to fixing our problem with representation. A lot of terrible ideas were born out of the 1930s.
A great story.
Broaden the discussion to all 4 amendments ratified in the Progressive Era: 16 (1913), 17 (1916), 18 (1919), 19 (1920).
Of course, the 19th was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment so maybe it should be excluded. I’d contend the adverse results of the 19th are exactly the reason to have it in the discussion. IMO, all of these amendments having as a source the Progressive movement interlocks them to the point where trying to consider them in isolation is nearly impossible. Say what you will about their goals or methods, the Progressive movement had a single-minded vision and worked to achieve it. Compare to the ability of today’s Republicans to get anything done...
I am on board, let’s roll.
I agree.
The 19th, without a doubt!
Get rid of the 19th and the anchor baby law and the liberals would never win another election.
And ignoring the 10th has done a great deal of harm as well.
I think you meant to say the 18th amendment was repealed, not the 19th.
What will happen instead is that Democrats will work even harder to make sure that more state legislatures are Democrat in order to guarantee more Democrat senators.
Be careful what you wish for. You might just get it.
Good thoughts, but will never happen.....
Pipe dreams.........
What would happen is that the pressure to fundraise from wealthy donors would be lifted, since there would no longer be elections.
It's true that the whole nature of state politics would change. Democrats will work harder, but so will Republicans. The people will become more involved, too.
Originally, the people only directly voted for the House and their state governments. Repealing the 17th would give the people more say in the party influence in their states, which would then trickle up into the Congress.
But long story short, to me the best thing is the elimination of 33 of the most expensive elections that take place every two years. Take away the need for Senators to focus on fund-raising and campaigning, and make them devote their time to advancing the issues of their respective states.
No more NRSC for the McConnell's of the world to control to influence Senate elections from across the country. Keep the fate of Senators anchored to their own state legislatures.
-PJ
It’s long past time to stop calling them Senators.
They are nothing but Congressmen at Large.
They are nothing but Congressmen at Large.
Wouldn’t that be Congressmen collecting largess. See tagline.
The “Progressive Era” amendments (16-19) were all very damaging . 18 was repealed; the other three should be as well.
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