I think a lot of people underestimate the destructive power of the 17th amendment.
I agree. Sadly many FReepers stated that its their constitutional right to vote for senators in a recent thread about the 17th amendment. Many seem to think that things are as the founders envisioned.
It was disastrous popular vote snake oil sold under the banner of “empowerment” and it did exactly the opposite of empowering the people. States like mine have the GOP in control of all 3 branches of state government and the majority of our representatives in the US house are GOP but Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Flint consistently elect Levin and Stabenow.
Here in Michigan the state legislature is doing a lot of good work at cutting taxes and regulation while in DC, Levin and Stabenow are going exactly the other way. That doesn’t sound like they represent us.