So things will get worse, just because you say so? No one is stomping off - this is a good discussion - and the debate is certainly not over, as you have proclaimed.
This isn't 1913 all over again; we have 100 years of history to learn from. I don't trust anyone voting for me that isn't accountable for their decisions. Go to Wal-Mart - under direct democracy, those wonderful individuals (quite likely a great portion of whom are paying for their goods with YOUR money) are the ones selecting your senators. Are they going to care that the decisions your senators make in Washington has a negative effect on your liberties and prosperity? No - because it isn't going to directly affect them. Go ahead and raise taxes. Go ahead and send troops to Syria, Libya, and Uganda. They don't pay taxes, don't serve in the military, don't own a business, and don't ever have to wonder bow they are going to pay for their healthcare or where there next paycheck is coming from.
On the other hand, state legislators (typically) care primarily about getting elected, then about getting re-elected, then gaining and growing their political power. This is constant throughout human history. But unlike U.S. senators, state legislators LIVE with the people they represent. You regularly see them at community functions, restaurants, the store, etc. How often have you ever met your U.S. senator? Probably never, because they don't work for you or the state; they work for the federal government.
By amending the Constitution, we opened the gates of Senate corruption from a largely individual and relatively local scale to a massive national and international scale. Of course there was plenty of corruption prior to the amendment, but on a much smaller scale and removed any state representation from the federal government.
It all comes down to accountability; the indigent members of society aren't accountable for their actions, so they are free to vote for politicians that may be corrupt, but they are offering "free" stuff (that their opponents will allegedly take away) if only they are elected. Meanwhile, state legislatures are still corruptible, but are more accountable because their power and re-election chances are at stake. If irresponsible people or corruptible politicians don't have consequences for their actions, then they will go about as far as they can get away with. All we need to do is find the best path forward to fix corruption and restore the rule of law. The Founders undoubtedly had corruption and an ignorant/apathetic/destructive population in mind when they wrote and approved the Constitution.
I've laid out the reasons why they will indeed worsen, and inadvertently, so have folks on your side of the argument.
"This isn't 1913 all over again; we have 100 years of history to learn from. I don't trust anyone voting for me that isn't accountable for their decisions."
You're right, this isn't 1913, nor is it 1813, as some folks here seem to imagine it will be once the repeal occurs. This isn't the same country anymore.
"Go to Wal-Mart - under direct democracy, those wonderful individuals (quite likely a great portion of whom are paying for their goods with YOUR money) are the ones selecting your senators. Are they going to care that the decisions your senators make in Washington has a negative effect on your liberties and prosperity? No - because it isn't going to directly affect them. Go ahead and raise taxes. Go ahead and send troops to Syria, Libya, and Uganda. They don't pay taxes, don't serve in the military, don't own a business, and don't ever have to wonder bow they are going to pay for their healthcare or where there next paycheck is coming from."
The irony is that my state sends two RINOs to the U.S. Senate, and they'd be the same two that the legislature would be likely to elect. Non-Conservatives. No Ted Cruz or Rand Paul types need apply.
"On the other hand, state legislators (typically) care primarily about getting elected, then about getting re-elected, then gaining and growing their political power. This is constant throughout human history. But unlike U.S. senators, state legislators LIVE with the people they represent. You regularly see them at community functions, restaurants, the store, etc. How often have you ever met your U.S. senator? Probably never, because they don't work for you or the state; they work for the federal government."
I live in a state capital, so I see how things work a bit closer. I can tell you I've never met my state legislators, both are corrupt leftist buffoons I wouldn't trust to run a lemonade stand. Because of the Voting Rights Act, I have absolutely zero say as a White Republican voter in my State Senate district. And she doesn't even bother to campaign or meet the White constituents in her federally-mandated racially gerrymandered urban Black district.
My state rep, for which I was just redistricted into, is an idiot career politician whom has never had to worry about reelections in a heavy Dem district. Thanks to a 17th repeal, I would not only cease to have a say in those aforementioned districts AND my current Congressional district (which last elected a Republican in 1872 when President Grant ran for reelection), you would deprive me of my right to vote for Senator. The only office I would have left to a say in would be Governor. That's it.
You can see why your notions on this subject is repugnant to me from an accountability perspective. You've just disenfranchised me to almost the last. This is supposed to be an improvement ? Sorry, guy, it's not.
"By amending the Constitution, we opened the gates of Senate corruption from a largely individual and relatively local scale to a massive national and international scale. Of course there was plenty of corruption prior to the amendment, but on a much smaller scale and removed any state representation from the federal government."
And by returning to the old ways, you're going to spread that corruption on down from DC, as I addressed in a prior post. It will be like tossing gasoline on a fire.
"It all comes down to accountability; the indigent members of society aren't accountable for their actions, so they are free to vote for politicians that may be corrupt, but they are offering "free" stuff (that their opponents will allegedly take away) if only they are elected. Meanwhile, state legislatures are still corruptible, but are more accountable because their power and re-election chances are at stake. If irresponsible people or corruptible politicians don't have consequences for their actions, then they will go about as far as they can get away with. All we need to do is find the best path forward to fix corruption and restore the rule of law. The Founders undoubtedly had corruption and an ignorant/apathetic/destructive population in mind when they wrote and approved the Constitution."
You want to argue they're accountable. I've already stated how my members are NOT accountable. Ask responsible and well-informed people in heavily gerrymandered Democrat districts how accountable their members are... or those in establishment Republican-dominated districts ? By your plan, you're going to expand, not retract, the influence DC has over us as far down as imaginable. That's the reality of today, which your side isn't willing to face.