There is no theory... good government reformers sought direct election of senators to break the power of bosses like Boss Tweed, Mark Hannah, George Cox, guys like that.
It was corruption they were fighting, not looking for ways to get welfare passed. And whether they were right or wrong, the lesson should be instructive on this blog and so many others I read where everyone has a silver bullet to fix government. Be it a part time legislature, term limits, docking pay, whatever.
There are unintended consequences to everything we do.
And here's one if we repeal the 17th amendment:
In every state, the legislative delegation from the largest cities control the largest block of votes. And what party/philosophy do those groups invariably belong to?
The GOP had a good year in the MI Legislature. But don't think for a second that there is a lock on the next election... the same GOP lost and regained 20 seats in something like six years.
But you know what? Wayne County, Genesee County, Saginaw... those types of places either stayed the same, or the GOP candidate is hanging on by a thread.
So, who do you think, when things average out, is going to be controlling our senate delegation?
And what about California. Or New York?
Quick fixes do not work.
It isn't sexy, but we have to prove we are right. We have to win the argument. And we can do that better in an election than in trying to change the Constitution for this or that reason.
