It seems that right-wing has set their sights on the 17th Amendment

[Soupy Liberaltarian]

Since when was Woodrow Wilson a dictator and the 17th Amendment a falsely ratified document that stripped states rights?

Does the direct election of senators really scare conservatives that much??

I'm referring to the nuts on Freep, Hannity Forums, and the recent Op-Ed by George Will.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/20/AR2009022003034.html

[hobbit709]

1. You have to remember that to that mindset

when they're winning, it's good. When they're losing it's bad and the rules need to changed to favor them.

[rfranklin]

2. Will's column is based on the specious assertion that money....

equals free speech. Despite the rulings of the conservatized and corporatized Supreme Court, that's just wrong.

[NYC Liberal]

3. The Senate was originally the States' direct voice in the federal government.

Of course, this is 2009 not 1789, and I disagree with repealing it because of all the corruption the would come along with that. The people need to have the final say.

[GeorgeGist]

4. It scared the Founding Fathers ...

as did real freedom. NSI

[jmg257]

5. When you have the federal govt controlling state govts, then it is an issue.

The states and the (new) federal govt were expected to be in tension with each other, and by guarding their own powers and acting as checks on the other, the hope/intention was the rights of all the people in such a diverse area as the US would be better secured. Not a bad idea actually.

With the people expecting their...more local...state govts. to be more in tune with their worries then a distant central govt, it makes sense.
Part of the orignal problem though was the Senate tended to be the more 'aristocratic' branch - the "upper house", and less in tune with the people then they should have been.

There are currently like 25 states taking steps to pass legislation(?) "complaining" about the uncontitutional control the feds are exerting over them via federal monies.

[Still Sensible]

6. A thoroughly meaningless endeavor for the RW

which is still trying to find any issue that can give them some traction and break out of free fall. Let them chase this one all they want, it will keep them busy. At this point these clowns couldn't get two thirds of the states to ratify a resolution saying the sky is blue.