The word you are missing is the very last one in my post - Republic. Direct election of both houses of the Congress means that the states have no voice as those elected have to answer to the people directly, both Senators and Representatives. In a republic, there is a balance of the people and the states in order to ensure both have their interests represented. Elitism is a false argument. Go read the founding documents to understand why Ben Franklin strongly desired that the new country become a republic.
Direct election of both houses of the Congress means that the states have no voice as those elected have to answer to the people directly, both Senators and Representatives.
What are "the states" if not the people who reside in them?