The biggest complaint that state governments have is that they don't get enough money from Washington. I doubt the Senate would pass unfunded mandates on the states if the states control the hiring for the Senate. Furthermore, I doubt you'd see so much money leaving the states to be returned as federal funding with strings attached if the states chose their Senators. The money would never leave the state in the first place.
-PJ
I agree completely, it would be great for the states. But it would also make the state governments more accountable to their citizens. Now, the state governments can blame the Feds, and vice versa. THey like that system because it dilutes accountability. My point is that state governments are about as likely to clamor for a repeal of the 17th as the Senators themselves are.
It's discouraging as all get out, because repeal of the 17th would have lots of benefits.