rosenblatt, joseph ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
:
: Someone wrote in this thread, I hope in jest, that we should repeal the 17th
: amendment. It was suggested that this would stop the corruption of "big
: money" politics. If "national" politicians are corrupt due to lack of
: transparency then I can only project how much more corrupt "local"
: authorities that can sneak in under our "radar" would be for the same
: reason.
:
   http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/09/17/fl.dean.17th.amendment/
   CNN.com - FindLaw Forum:
   Should the 17th Amendment be repealed? - September 17, 2002

   FindLaw Forum: Should the 17th Amendment be repealed?

   By John. W. Dean
   FindLaw Columnist
   Special to CNN.com

  "(FindLaw.com) -- Federalism, the allocation and balancing of power
   between state and federal government, has emerged as a central concern
   of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Slowly,
   but steadily, the Rehnquist Court has been cutting back federal
   powers, and protecting state's rights.

   Many have wondered what the court is doing. Why are the court's five
   conservatives -- the Chief Justice himself, along with associate
   justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and
   Clarence Thomas -- creating this new jurisprudence of federalism?

   The answer is simple: they are seeking to fill a void in our
   constitutional structure, a problem created early in the 20th century.
   The problem began when, in the name of "democracy," we tinkered with
   the fundamental structure of the Constitution by adopting the 17th
   Amendment.

   The amendment calls for direct election of U.S. Senators. It's a
   change that has in fact proved anything but democratic. And it is a
   change whose aftermath may haunt the 21st century..."


--Jerry Leslie   (my opinions are strictly my own)
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