In addition to the 17th Amendment, we also need to repeal the 16th Amendment, allowing for direct taxation of income,thereby making serfs of us all. And last but not least, we need to revoke the House Rule from 1928 limiting House membership to 435.
The Constitution says there may not be more than 1 representative for every 30,000 citizens. Since 1928, the ratio of House members to citizens has waned to 710,000 to 1, thereby emasculating the citizenry as effectively as the 17th Amendment emasculated the States.
All three must be undone to restore the macro checks and balances among the Federal Government, the States and the People.
You bring up a point I decided not to address, due to excessive length already in my post.
Delegates George Mason, and Edmund Randolph didn’t sign the draft Constitution, due in part, because they feared the House of Reps would become an aristocratic institution. Even at 1:30,000, that was too many constituents. Only the better off, and not the common citizen, would have the resources to campaign. Representatives were supposed to be just that, neighbors that most people knew in their community.
The Anti-Federalists back then would freak out at the one to over 720,000 ratio today.
But, how many members can a House of Reps have before it becomes too unwieldly?
Oh, and yes, the 17A’s evil sibling, the 16A must go as well.