I believe that repeal would be popular in the states. Now we only need to find a few Senators with the gumption to cut off their cash flow. Damn Citizens United!
Don’t get me started on thunne and his obstructionist agenda…when this came up (Senate Majority Leader), I preferred Rick Scott but the turtle and his agendas prevailed…glad to see him finally gone from the Senate, the turtle that is…
Bravo. Thank you for addressing this. I'm reposting to Facebook. Every time Thune is on television, it is obvious he doesn't have a sincere bone in his body. He should be yanked out by the collar, and after having read this feature, so should all the senators.
My question is, who is able to get this domino to the tipping point? Is it individual citizens pressing their senator? Seems like a self-perpetuating ill, where the citizen's voice is drowned out by the siren call of big money, and then big money dictates the ongoing actions of the senator!
Far too much money is wasted on these campaigns that favor whoever raises the most cash. The playing field could be leveled with a reasonable limit and by allowing donations by private citizens only with a limit for each donor. No more special interest groups, PACs, unions, etc.
Thank you for the analysis. These two amendments - the 16th and the 17th - are the products of Woodrow Wilson's elitist progressivism and have no place in the US constitution.
Along with that same year, 1913, we got the income tax, the Fed Reserve which is a private banking cartel…Woodrow Wilson was a terrible Prez only outranked by Buyden
Yes !! US senators are no longer beholden to their constituents but just one year out of six. That is the year they find salvation and promise to be more responsive to their voters. And like idiots we vote them back in because we usually choose the worst of two evils( i.e. Maine senate this year) It seems the other party finds the most unelectable candidate and runs them against a uniparty candidate and we are stuck for another six years and the process replays itself over again.
Dump the 17th amendment and make it possible for the state legislature to recall and replace the senator.
I'm constantly amazed at how common sense could be utilized to govern this great nation! And you, sir, are the herald of a lot of that common sense. Once again I learned what a solution would look like, if only we would take that path! Thank you!
I’ve been banging the repeal the 17th drum for over 25 years. Another huge advantage of repealing it would be that voters would start paying a lot more attention to who they elect to their State legislatures, knowing that their US Senators would be chosen by their legislature. Furthermore, Republican controlled legislatures significantly outnumber Democrat controlled legislatures, thus repealing the 17th would immediately make the Senate a Republican supermajority. What are we waiting for???
Can you, Alexander, or anyone, explain why Thune gave RINO Cornyn $100M, then spends me a frantic request for $ b/c the Dem Talarico raised $40M? (My usual gift is $10-$20, no extra zeros.) I refuse to give Senate Reps another cent!
[when the rules] "changed the Senate from a chamber of state ambassadors into a chamber of free agents accountable mainly to one another, to national donors, and to national media..."
We need to go a step further and have the Congress house representation at one for every 50,000 constituents as originally set up. Maybe we could modify it to double that, but put some real representation in place.
Thanks for a wonderful article. The states should elect their senators. This is the only case of a Constitutional amendment changing the structure and design of our government, and proves that the Founders were a lot smarter than Woody Wilson. I've written on this. You can find my articles at
I believe that repeal would be popular in the states. Now we only need to find a few Senators with the gumption to cut off their cash flow. Damn Citizens United!
Preach it. Sister!
Don’t get me started on thunne and his obstructionist agenda…when this came up (Senate Majority Leader), I preferred Rick Scott but the turtle and his agendas prevailed…glad to see him finally gone from the Senate, the turtle that is…
Bravo. Thank you for addressing this. I'm reposting to Facebook. Every time Thune is on television, it is obvious he doesn't have a sincere bone in his body. He should be yanked out by the collar, and after having read this feature, so should all the senators.
“America has the best government that money can buy.” - Mark Twain.
“America has no natural criminal class - except for Congress.” - Mark Twain
Some things never change.
My question is, who is able to get this domino to the tipping point? Is it individual citizens pressing their senator? Seems like a self-perpetuating ill, where the citizen's voice is drowned out by the siren call of big money, and then big money dictates the ongoing actions of the senator!
A very interesting post, as usual.
It never fails, you have the most interesting and provocative commentary!
I keep waiting for the shepard's crook to snag his ass.
Far too much money is wasted on these campaigns that favor whoever raises the most cash. The playing field could be leveled with a reasonable limit and by allowing donations by private citizens only with a limit for each donor. No more special interest groups, PACs, unions, etc.
Or LOBBYISTS ~~~ under the table!!!!!!!
Thank you for the analysis. These two amendments - the 16th and the 17th - are the products of Woodrow Wilson's elitist progressivism and have no place in the US constitution.
Amen, Brother! 💯
Absolutely true. That amendment in 1913 was a catastrophe for the Republic.
Along with that same year, 1913, we got the income tax, the Fed Reserve which is a private banking cartel…Woodrow Wilson was a terrible Prez only outranked by Buyden
Obama is right up there also with Jimmy Carter.
Yes !! US senators are no longer beholden to their constituents but just one year out of six. That is the year they find salvation and promise to be more responsive to their voters. And like idiots we vote them back in because we usually choose the worst of two evils( i.e. Maine senate this year) It seems the other party finds the most unelectable candidate and runs them against a uniparty candidate and we are stuck for another six years and the process replays itself over again.
Dump the 17th amendment and make it possible for the state legislature to recall and replace the senator.
I'm constantly amazed at how common sense could be utilized to govern this great nation! And you, sir, are the herald of a lot of that common sense. Once again I learned what a solution would look like, if only we would take that path! Thank you!
I’ve been banging the repeal the 17th drum for over 25 years. Another huge advantage of repealing it would be that voters would start paying a lot more attention to who they elect to their State legislatures, knowing that their US Senators would be chosen by their legislature. Furthermore, Republican controlled legislatures significantly outnumber Democrat controlled legislatures, thus repealing the 17th would immediately make the Senate a Republican supermajority. What are we waiting for???
They can't even pass the save act, much less abolish the 17th. Maybe if Iran drops a nuke on DC, or if suddenly pigs fly.
Can you, Alexander, or anyone, explain why Thune gave RINO Cornyn $100M, then spends me a frantic request for $ b/c the Dem Talarico raised $40M? (My usual gift is $10-$20, no extra zeros.) I refuse to give Senate Reps another cent!
in a nutshell....
[when the rules] "changed the Senate from a chamber of state ambassadors into a chamber of free agents accountable mainly to one another, to national donors, and to national media..."
We need to go a step further and have the Congress house representation at one for every 50,000 constituents as originally set up. Maybe we could modify it to double that, but put some real representation in place.
Thanks for a wonderful article. The states should elect their senators. This is the only case of a Constitutional amendment changing the structure and design of our government, and proves that the Founders were a lot smarter than Woody Wilson. I've written on this. You can find my articles at
https://jacksotallaro.substack.com/p/the-17th-amendment (The 17th Amendment) and
https://jacksotallaro.substack.com/p/the-reason-for-the-17th-amendment (The Reason for the 17th Amendment).