17th Amendment

My husband and I were watching TV the other night and an AD for the upcoming Colorado elections. The one in question was from the campaign of Michael Bennett slamming his opponent Ken Buck claiming "Buck wants to take away your right to vote!"

My husband and I , Buck supporters, were aghast. Ken Buck...what? No way. Surely they must be mistaken. So, being me, I did some research, which is more than most people who viewed the ad will do. Me? I am just nosey that way.

Trying to keep this "fair and balanced", I googled it and decided upon a more left leaning site, (snort...ok, waaayyy left site) Huffington post. The article can be found HERE. It quotes Mr. Buck saying, that the American public needed to be educated "about the populist nature of the 17th Amendment and how it has taken us down the wrong path."
 

"I don't know that we get [repeal] tomorrow, but I think we get there in the very near future when people understand just what a horrendous effect the 17th amendment has been on the federal government's spending."

So I decided to give myself a bit of a history lesson, and looked up the 17th. Wow...just wow.

In short, this amendment was put in effect in 1913. Prior to that time the US senators were chosen by the state legislature. I took a moment to chew on this, and then it hit me... if they are chosen by the legislature, then we the people have a better chance of our voices being heard in our state. Not so dumb. It's all about accountability folks. As the system stands now, anyone with a bankroll and a pretty face can get elected. It is in large part a popularity contest with candidates looking for snappy taglines and freshly scrubbed children in their ads. We don't know these people, but the people they work with do. To have your state legislature elect you requires not only intelligence and savvy, but respect and trust. Think about it.

If you would like to read more ( and I hope you will) please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution