The key problem is not whether the Senator is ellected by the direct popular vote or the indirect popular vote through the state legislature. The problem is the inability to remove a senator before the end of the six year term of office. before the 17th Amendment, the Senator could be removed by the popularly elected state legislature. After the 17th Amendment, the state legislature was powerless to remove the Senator from office. Given the politics of the U.S. Senate, it is virtually impossible to hold a rogue Senator accountable for any misconduct, even the forms of misconduct which are impeachable offenses.
“before the 17th Amendment, the Senator could be removed by the popularly elected state legislature”
You certainly make a good point there.
But still don’t concur with your compromise proposal.
We already OVER-compromise.