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How the Founders' original design would affect the US Senate
American Thinker ^ | August 28, 2022 | J.H. Capron

Posted on 08/28/2022 11:01:14 AM PDT by ScaniaBoy

There have been many details exposed over the last two years about how our government at all levels is not what we thought it was, and none of what we're hearing bodes well for this republic.

Let's focus on one issue: the U.S. Senate. It's clearer than it has ever been that it's just a collection of elected officials, behaving as if they're independent actors with no restraint. It's as if they have no allegiance to anyone. The citizens of their respective states matter not, except once every six years, when they play the "how can I fool them again" game. They're a law unto themselves. Oh, and the welfare of their respective states? They couldn't care less.

How did this come about? The 17th Amendment.

Nineteen thirteen was a terrible year for our republic. It delivered a double–constitutional body blow: first, imposing a federal income tax — the 16th Amendment — and then the general election of U.S. senators — the 17th Amendment.

Prior to the 17th Amendment, state legislatures appointed senators. Each state had its own process for this. The senators were the gating mechanism against a House of Representatives that had a penchant toward foolishness. Given the fruitcakes we see there today, it's clear the Founding Fathers knew what they were doing.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: 17thamendment; 1913; congress; senate; ussenate
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To: Amendment10

Bump for later reading. I always learn so much from your posts.


41 posted on 08/28/2022 2:13:08 PM PDT by boxlunch (Red State governors, kick the fednazis OUT of red states! )
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To: ScaniaBoy; Jacquerie

After the passage of the 17th amendment, ask yourself this:
“What purpose does the U.S. Senate serve?”
“Why does it even exist?”


42 posted on 08/28/2022 2:15:08 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: Repeal The 17th

The Senate’s foundation doesn’t support its purpose.


43 posted on 08/28/2022 2:17:22 PM PDT by Jacquerie (ArticleVBlog.com)
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

Figures YOU would have a problem with the obvious disaster the 17th amendment has been. Wow. New low.


44 posted on 08/28/2022 2:19:44 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: qaz123

The 17th amendment has been a disaster. Those denying it look like fools.


45 posted on 08/28/2022 2:21:09 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Oh stop it already. The 17th is a disaster and you know it..


46 posted on 08/28/2022 2:22:30 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: metmom

It ias amazing how clueless some Freepers really are. The 17th is a disaster in progress.


47 posted on 08/28/2022 2:24:55 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: central_va

One person put it better than anyone.

It’s a club and you/we ain’t in it.


48 posted on 08/28/2022 2:33:29 PM PDT by qaz123
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To: central_va; BillyBoy; Impy

It was a disaster before. You want politicians choosing your elected Senators for you ? I certainly don’t. You’re not going to get statesmen again with the hacks in the legislatures picking them, you’ll get more hacks.


49 posted on 08/28/2022 2:43:24 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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To: Jacquerie

One House is apportioned by population. The other gives each state equal representation. One answers to rural and agricultural interests, and the other to urban interests. There’s your logic. Senators usuallly have to answer to a larger electorate than representatives. Also, it’s easier for nutjobs to become representatives than senators.


50 posted on 08/28/2022 2:57:54 PM PDT by x
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To: x

Check out the link in #28.


51 posted on 08/28/2022 3:27:04 PM PDT by Jacquerie (ArticleVBlog.com)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; BillyBoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKRKWrx21u4&ab_channel=Sidewinder


52 posted on 08/28/2022 3:27:54 PM PDT by Impy ("We didn't steal the election, we swear!!!" - Sincerely, The Election Thieves )
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To: fieldmarshaldj
"Had their been an instrument in the Constitution allowing for a simple recall of a Senator by the legislature (for failure to follow instructions on how to vote), it would’ve fulfilled more of the Founding Fathers’ vision for that body."

Before the 17th., I thought the Governor of the state had the power the recall a Senator at any time.. Am I wrong about that.?

53 posted on 08/28/2022 3:40:19 PM PDT by unread ("It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." W. Churchill.)
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To: Amendment10

Very good.!! Thanks for that... :)


54 posted on 08/28/2022 3:43:27 PM PDT by unread ("It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." W. Churchill.)
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To: unread

No, there was never a power of recall. A Governor could only appoint a Senator in case of a vacancy via resignation or death, and then the legislature would elect a new Senator for the remainder of the term.


55 posted on 08/28/2022 3:45:21 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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To: fieldmarshaldj
You want politicians choosing your elected Senators for you ?

Yes, absolutely I do. Most people don't even know the names of their state rep or state senator. This is how little the state ( vs the fed ) means to them. If the 17th is repealed you better damn well believe that would change. A change for the better.

56 posted on 08/28/2022 3:54:59 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Impy; fieldmarshaldj
I kinda wish these dopes could get their wish for a few years so they WAKE UP and see for themselves just how incredibly awful the state-appointed Senators would be. Whatever super crooked hacks are appointed for life would suck so bad they'd make slime like Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein look decent by comparison.

It's like how we got cursed out here a few years ago by the Liz Cheney groupies who were pimping her carpetbagging into Wyoming so they could get a "fighter" in Congress.

Well... they CERTAINLY got one!

And NOW they see just "good" things were after daddy's little girl got to be a "fighter" in Washington D.C.!

57 posted on 08/28/2022 4:10:30 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Build Biden Better.)
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To: central_va

I wouldn’t. Both my legislators don’t have a collective IQ that adds up to my shoe size, and I have big feet.


58 posted on 08/28/2022 4:16:19 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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To: fieldmarshaldj
Both my legislators don’t have a collective IQ that adds up to my shoe size, and I have big feet.

They may now. Repeal the 17th and a higher caliber person runs for state office.

59 posted on 08/28/2022 4:20:55 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: central_va; Impy; BillyBoy; GOPsterinMA; NFHale; LS; campaignPete R-CT; AuH2ORepublican; ...

No, it won’t. I’m in a (Black) Voter Rights Act district in the State Senate and a White moonbat State House district.

What you want to happen in expecting better people to serve isn’t going to happen, not with a 17th repeal. What it would require would be something exceptionally dramatic, and that would mean returning our nation to being a Republic.

Right now, “Democracy” has failed us by allowing too many people to vote that have no business doing so. Raising the voting age dramatically to at least 30, disallowing those working for their government & gov’t contractors and their families/dependents to vote, disallowing those receiving any government payments, welfare, and the like from voting. Also even disallowing naturalized citizens from voting until they’ve been citizens for at least a decade. You literally have to have skin in the game to have the franchise.


60 posted on 08/28/2022 4:39:46 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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