The article itself makes it pretty plain, the 17th isn’t going anywhere at this point. These debates we have here on a frequent basis are academic. I think our energies would be better spent on finding other ways to reign in big government.
I’ve suggested that anyone employed by the federal government (exclusive of military/law enforcement) or those receiving government payments (taxpayers money, again exclusive of payments they themselves have put in) should forfeit their right to vote until such time they are no longer employed in such or receiving said payments.
Another suggestion is repeal of civil service and a return to patronage. Trash in, trash out, so to speak. You come in with an administration for 4 or 8 years, and you leave with it. No lifelong sinecures. We have armies of left-leaning bureaucrats proliferating ever larger government with each day, insulated from reality (from the taxpayers, from market downturns). D.C. and its environs continue to live in a perpetual environment of Nirvana, and are directly responsible for our being almost $20 trillion in debt with liabilities that are multiples of that. This is frightening beyond anything, especially what repeal of the 17th would be able to accomplish even under the most idealistic of fantasies.
Did you read through the responses? I thought some very good points were made.
But, as far as what is “academic” - I would have to respond that it is mathematically impossible for this nation to pay the $20+ trillion debt. If you think “multiples” of unfunded liabilities is a nightmare ... Take a look into derivatives exposure - credit default swaps and sovereign debt in particular - that by act of recent banking legislation (drafted under great influence of CitiBank, in which the Saudi Royals hold a controlling interest - think hedging on oil profit losses) every U.S. taxpayer is now on the hook to underwrite if default occurs!
Bottom line - The United States is finished as a nation. It will go insolvent. And then will come civil war ... And with that, our argument over the 17th Amendment will be, in comparison, an insignificant footnote.
If I could wave a magic wand and do one thing politically, it would probably be that.