Is it time to repeal the 17th Amendment?

One of the first things that the Progressive movement did was try to convince us that we were a
Democracy. One of the earliest moves on this front in tearing down what the Founding Fathers had set up
was the 17th Amendment.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people
thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such
State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may
empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by
election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it
becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

On the surface and for the last 100 years it would have been thought to be a
good thing. Let us step back and ask why the founders did not want
Senators elected. They envisioned that the Senate would represent the calm
hand of Judgment by men selected by their representative States
Legislators. It was believed that the Senate would be more deliberate. They
wanted it to counter the whims of the peoples house. As Madison put it
``fickleness and passion'' that could absorb the House. He noted further,
``The use of the Senate is to consist in its proceeding with more coolness,
with more system and with more wisdom, than the popular branch.'

This was the intent. So the progressives knew that they could convince the American people that they
should be elected. Simply by shielding the people from the founders, the constitution and intentions the
founding fathers had envisioned. After all who would not want to elect the Senate?

Well we have seen what it has done to America in the last 100 years. Instead of being the limited hand
controlling the whims of the populace House, the Senate itself became embroiled in the same populace
whims of the House. The Senate was intended to be Bi-Camel balance to the House, now has become the
same as the House. With the Progressives true intention never fully understood until the enough time had
passed for the people to completely forget why the Founders intended it to be Bi-Camel. No what we have
is two Houses control by the Populace stealing the fruits of one’s labor to grant false sense of security or
Social Justice if you will. The Parties Democrat and Republican, the House and The Senate is now
filled with Progressives that believe in ever expanding authority of Government thereby trampling on
the Rights of the INDIVIDUAL for the whims of the Collective.

The Senate needs to be restored to its rightful place. It needs to be selected by the state legislators. It needs
to be the calming force to prevent such whimsical spending and eliminate the corruption that it is now
wrought with. What you have now is the Progressive Republicans and the Socialist Democrats using it at
the behest of the Political Parties.

Barry Bench
Orlando Fl