An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right

« Australian Town Bans Water In Plastic Bottles

How Not To Get Swine Flu (Guest Voice) »

Pleading the 17th

Posted by JAZZ SHAW, Assistant Editor in Politics.
Sep 28th, 2009 | Comments

In 1913 our nation suffered a collective failure of judgment when we passed the 17th amendment. It was not a mistake to hand the power of electing senators to the voters rather than state legislatures, but we really dropped the ball when we put in an “option” for each state to pick and choose whether their governor could make interim appointments. The fundamental harm this causes far exceeds any benefits paid in either expediency or fiscal savings for extra elections. There is no greater example of how this opened the door to abuse than the actions of Massachusetts between 2004 and today, with other states now looking at that particular shell game with envy. This is the subject of my column this week at Pajamas Media. You are, as always, invited to read and share your thoughts.

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

roro80

Eh, I really can't get all that worked up over this. It just seems that every time a state excersizes their state rights according to the constitution, it's considered "good" or "bad" based on whether it was advantageous to the person writing the opinion. It kind of reminds me how Christians want individual churches to be able to deside who gets to get married in that church -- unless a particular church desides it wants to marry gay people.

Leonidas

I also would prefer the repeal of the 17th amendment. The election of Senators by State legislators was a part of the system of checks and balances the founding fathers intended. Without it the system has become skewed at the expense of the States.

As Madison wrote in Federalist #62 " "The appointment of senators by state legislatures gives to state governments such an agency in the formation of the federal government, as must secure the authority of the former."

To often the citizens and political leaders of our nation see us as the "United States of America", rather than the "United States of America".

blog comments powered by Disqus