Georgia Legislators Propose Ending Direct Election of Senators—Why Not Just Get Rid of the Senate?

Mother Jones (yeah, I know, I know) ^ | February 15, 2013 | Tim Murphy

[funfan]

“Buzz Brockaway” who couldnt trust someone with a name like that?

[Vince Ferrer]

I’m in.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Ha!

[Jet Jaguar]

I like it.

[GeronL]

lol.

I think we should allow state legislatures to choose at least one of the two Senators from each state

[ForGod'sSake]

~bump~

[Maurice Tift]

   The 17th Amendment was a horrible mistake. The 16th was even worse and both should be repealed.

[Mortrey]

I don’t get this and I’m not sure I like it—someone convince me otherwise.

“Getting voters to agree to give up their right to vote will probably be a tough sell.”

Do we even HAVE a “vote” anymore?-—

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hbf3iaEbAuY

Just who is going to be in a position to “affect” this? Someone we “voted” for?

[nickcarraway]

The Senate is probably the most unAmerican institution in the country.

[Shadow44]

I agree. Senators originally were to champion their State’s interests from being encroached upon by the Federal Government.

Once direct elections were enacted, we’ve seen a massive power grab by Washington, and the Senate has lost its connection to the constituent states.

[nickcarraway]

Yes. But have you considered that those state legislatures would pick someone to the left of the voters every time. No one to the right of Dianne Feinstein would ever be in the Senate again.

[no-to-illegals]

Someone please correct me if am wrong. Are not a majority of the States’ legislatures controlled by republicans? If true then the Senate would be in republican hands. Now for the catch 22 ... a majority of the electorate does not support selected over elected, if am reading the TEA leaves properly. I truly do not know what the TEA party has said on this matter and have not investigated or researched. May have to go on a to do list to do the search.

[WhiskeyX]

“No one to the right of Dianne Feinstein would ever be in the Senate again.”

Perhaps that problem could be solved by requiring the first Senate seat to be appointed by the state assembly majority leader and the second seat appointed by the state assembly minority leader?

[philman_36]

Getting voters to agree to give up their right to vote will probably be a tough sell.

Is this guy on drugs or what? Nobody is losing their right to vote.
If anything repealing the 17th would make the votes of voters much more influential, as well as being more meaningful, to the people seeking office in their own States!

JMHO

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

That’s why we need to clean out the legisl00tures and the Republican party before actually repealing the 17th. Nothing like a crony Senate.

[no-to-illegals]

The math adds up from your suggestion. Majority of states under control of whatever party controls the Senate.

[svcw]

The house members (who originally were the ‘everyday man’ legislators), were elected. The idea being they would serve 2-4 years and go home. But the senate was appointed by (the powers that be)....really could the appointment be worse than the elected.......????

[no-to-illegals]

iirc at the time the change was made from what was to what is now, the outcry was a crony Senate. I could be wrong though there was some sort of outcry for the change to be made.

[Mortrey]

Once “appointed” (by who?), how difficult to have them removed?