..an interesting idea - but what makes us certain that such a move would make the senate more (not less) responsive to the public will? What happens if it just turns them into more dedicated liberals/globalists?
Public will? Responsive? Like the article says, yeah, sure.. Once every six years, for about 6 months.
With an appointed senator, at least it is the states that hold the influence, and the state legislature is still elected by "the people" of that state.
The influence of the voters may be indirect, but it is much stronger.
Some things won't change.
Senators will still seek pork for their state constituencies, and advance their state's interests.
But there would be less support through certain special interests and corporate sponsors.
The senators would be directly responsible to their state legislature.
Additionally, IIRC, the state legislatures had the power to recall senators that did not faithfully represent the state.
That would help end the "good ole' boys" club in the senate that refuses to punish anyone for their misdeeds.
By putting the appointment of the Senators with the Legislatures, the founding fathers made sure being “responsive to the public will” would NOT infect the Senate. In fact, that’s one of the problems we have now, they do respond to popular causes and public opinion. Once the media starts a feeding frenzy on a “Popular Cause,” the Senators flock to the TV to see how much face time they can get.