And, regarding the change in rules, in my opinion and I believe that of the author of the article is that making such changes need be level handed and not driven to obstruct important tools for one side of the isle, but not apply to the other side...
The 17th amendment has done more to trash the intended and constitutionally mandated process of the US Government than any other thing. The 17th amendment rendered the individual states politically impotent and largely irrelevant.
A simple glance at the map in the link illustrates that if the 17th amendment were not passed, the Dems would be lucky to have even 40 Senators in that supposedly august body:
http://www.ncsl.org/tabid/21253/default.aspx
The 17th amendment ruined a beautifully designed ‘Republican’ form of government given to us by the founders, and has allowed this progressive agenda to advance.
“I, like many, would like to see the Constitution changed back to the concept, as originally intended by the Founding Fathers, that the Senate would consist of person’s chosen by State Legislators. This would put more power in the hands of the States and clean up much of the stupidity and corrupt influence involved in electing US Senators under the present format...”
Absolutely correct. Here’s why: The 16th amendment (income tax) and the 17th amendment (direct election of senators) were critical to the growth of big government. Prior to the 16th, all taxes had to be allocated to the states based upon population. It was up to the state legislatures to raise the money. Since the state legislatures appointed senators prior to the 17th amendment, the most critical job of these state appointed senators was to ensure that the state legislures didn’t have to raise taxes to pay fedeal bills.