I have a hard time believing that deadlocks were the sole reason for passage of that amendment, or even figured at all in the decision. First of all, it's hard to see how such deadlocks actually prevented the Senate from doing its job, or resulted in an unfair administration of government. Secondly, if a state went un- or underrepresented as a result of deadlock, it was its own fault and
should suffer the consequences. And finally, Congress has the power under the Constitution, if it so chooses, to make regulations regarding the manner of electing senators, and could therefore prescribe rules that would minimize or eliminate the deadlocks.
That said, I'm all in favor of a repeal of the 17th.
Do you think the New Jersey state legislature would do a better job of selecting a senator than the voters of New Jersey? If given a choice between the Torch and Forrester, who would the legislature have chosen?
I think that it would have helped to appoint senators in the past. But now voters have better access to information.