Special interest monies will certainly trump political positions when Senators are appointed rather than elected - without even the clarifying tonic of electoral input.
The reason money for campaigns is how campaigns are won or lost and how politicians are bought and sold is because the majority of American voters are highly influenced by 30 second advertisements.
The same sort of scumbags will get elected using the same scummy tactics playing the same scummy game - except now those scum will directly appoint Senators (in “smokey back rooms”) rather than having the issue decided by the electorate.
There is, as you allude to, little support either among the political class, or among the citizenry - for repeal of the 17th Amendment.
Based upon the recent conviction of Blagojevich - I don't think it is going to be gathering much steam either.
Recall if you will how Governor Blagojevich took his important duty to appoint a Senator for the people of his State..... I paraphrase.... “This F*cking Plum falls in my F*cking lap - and I am supposed to GIVE IT AWAY? NO F*cking way!”.
A Senatorial seat is a “plum” and very very few currently in government are going to give it away when they can charge as much as the market will bear.
Bought and paid for Senators right out the gate instead of those compromised due to the necessity of money for advertisements in campaigns is not exactly an improvement, IMHO.
Prior to the 17th amendment, the Senators were not appointed, they were elected by the state legislators.
Theoretically it would be more difficult for special interest money to be effective in all the state legislative races than in the one statewide election of a U.S. Senator.
The reason money for campaigns is how campaigns are won or lost and how politicians are bought and sold is because the majority of American voters are highly influenced by 30 second advertisements.
Although each state is different, in NH (a very large house of representatives) it is very easy for each citizen to personally meet their state representative. The Town of Brentwood has 1 rep and 3000 voters. I know the last two reps that served personally. That makes the 30 second sound bite much less effective.
The same sort of scumbags will get elected using the same scummy tactics playing the same scummy game - except now those scum will directly appoint Senators (in “smokey back rooms”) rather than having the issue decided by the electorate.
Granted both systems have had scumbags elected.
The venerable James Wilson was the only member of the Constitutional Convention that advocated for the direct election of Senators. He lost the argument by a vote of 10-1 at the convention.
The main reasoning for the election by the legislature was to appease the anti-federalists who feared that the federal government would overstep its authority if the state legislators were not represented in Congress. This has obviously occurred since 1913, but that doesn't however prove causation.
At this point I am certainly for trying a "new" approach to unseating the lifetime entrenched. I don't see how it could be worse than the current situation. Plus I base my opinion on the fact that I reside in a State with no power of recall or ballot initiative. Therefore power struggles at the state level and local level would be of paramount importance to seeking a change of a Federal Senator.
Anyway thanks for the discussion, I will continue to promote repeal to all I am in contact with as a county executive committeeman.