It still gives the states the right to choose the methodology of appointing/electing senators. Sooner or later some legislatures will figure out its in their best interest to start appointing them the angrier the people get at centralized Washington government.
I firmly believe repeal of the 17th is the best course out of this nightmare, with repeal of the 16th a close second.
I think we should repeal the 16th, too. It will get those fatassed Southerners up off their lazy butts and make them contribute for a change.
Not discussed in this article is Campaign Finance Reform. Repealing the 16th and 17th amendments would be real campaign finance reform instead of the John McCain unconstitutional fiasco. The amount of money spent on senate campaigns is astronomical; in most state legislatures the districts are small enough that the representative is known to a large percentage of the voters. It is much harder to corrupt the many than the one.