Two days ago, the Richmond Times-Dipatch printed a response to Jamie Radtke’s April 25th article “Tea Party: Right Wing or Mainstream?”. In it, the author does a good job of quickly explaining why Senators were originally appointed by state legislatures and not elected by popular vote, as instituted by the 17th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Here’s an excerpt:
Federalist No. 62 explains the reason for senators being appointed by state legislatures: to “[give] to the State governments such an agency in the formation of the federal government as must secure the authority of the former, and may form a convenient link between the two systems.” Unfortunately, the Progressives forced the 17th Amendment upon an unknowing public in 1913 — whereby senators are now elected by the people. That means by those who will line their pockets, thereby opening the floodgates to unlimited federal power. Because of the 17th Amendment, the federal government can run roughshod over the state legislatures, passing unfunded mandates and dictating what they must do, hence, corrupting the purpose of the original Constitution.
