I agree absolutely with the author's conclusion that the 17th Amendment gutshot the capacity of the states to restrain the growth of the federal government. It DID upset the checks and balances between state and federal government.
I disagree with his conclusion about the cause for the change. I have read accounts of representatives of the Union Pacific Railroad standing just off the floor of a state legislature, passing out checks to those who voted the "correct" way in electing a new US Senator. However, that disagreement doesn't matter much.
Bottom line: any change in the Constitution today which would move away from democracy (even if it made great sense in a constitutional way) has all the chances of a snowball in hell. It ain't gonna happen. Spend your time on more productive efforts, like abolishing bad television, stamping out stupidity in the Democratic Party, and making water run uphill.
Congressman Billybob
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Water does run uphill here near Lake Wales, Fla. they have made no progress in stamping out stupidity in the Democratic Party in Fla. however.