Was MEANT to.
"It was a check on the growth and power of the Federal Government and it worked for over 120 years."
Wrong. It ceased to be that early in the 19th century and with the Civil War, any remnants of that completely collapsed. It became a corrupt body of wealthy citizens representing various special interests.
"Now the Senate represents political parties which want to grow the power of the Federal Government, which you seem to favor and I oppose."
I challenge you to find any post or article where I favor strengthening the ultra-obscene and anti-Constitutional Federal Government of the present. If you think giving back the power to choose Senators to corrupt and statist state legislatures will cease to represent the parties, you're sadly mistaken. Your side is the one preaching EMPOWERING politicians, not disempowering them. You'll also cease to give Republicans a chance to be elected in states with hyper-Dem legislatures and at the same time having any sort of Conservatives elected from GOP states. In other words, Dem legs will elect the most radical of hard-core leftists and GOP ones will elect big government fiscally reckless types, both of which will be united in their quest to loot the bankrupt treasury.
"Just look at how the size and scope of the Federal Government has grown over the last 104 and how much the States power has been diminished."
It's been growing since Day #1, and States power went out the window with the Civil War. The last time it was effectively cut in size, however briefly, was under 2 Conservative Presidents, Harding and Coolidge, and that was AFTER the 17th was ratified. The post-17th Senate is not to blame for all of our ills. There were too many problems before and too many big government happy politicians in BOTH parties since the 19th century leading us to the situation we find ourselves in now.
My lib state legislators can have MY RIGHT to vote for the Senate candidate of my choice over my dead body.
Such nonsense would never fly with voters on the right or left.