REPEAL 17TH AMENDMENT POSTER BOY
William Been
When the Founders created our Republic, it was their intention that the two senators from each state were to be representative of the political policies and direction of the individual state. With this objective in mind, Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution establishes the Senate as follows: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.”
Among the various reasons that the Founders considered when designating the State Legislatures was their desire and intent to assemble a select assembly. Quoting John Jay from No. 64 of the Federalist Papers: “…as the State Legislatures who appoint the senators will in general be composed of the most enlightened and respectable citizens, there is reason to presume that their attention and their votes will be directed to those men only who have become the most distinguished by their abilities and virtue, and in whom the people perceive just grounds for confidence.”
Throughout the 19th century, there were various calls to change the senator selection process to a direct election by the people. Among the reasons given for changing the selection process were corruption charges at the state level during the selection process while the Populous and Progressive Movements pushed from the perspective of pure democracy. Eventually, during the heights of the Progressive Movement of Woodrow Wilson, the selection process was changed by the ratification of the 17th Amendment on April 8, 1913. The 17th Amendment simply changed the appointment by the State Legislative bodies to a direct election of the people from each state.
Fast forward to 2012. The worst of the Founders fears is now playing out across our country as we now talk about how much money it will take to win an election, we now hear that 20% of the voters don’t make up their minds until the last two months before an election, we now see radio and television ads of questionable integrity designed to sway the voters, we now see multiple special interest groups outside of the state influencing elections, we see disinterest at all levels of society, we see the Hollywood image trumping enlightenment, and sadly we see elections where the majority of the voters do not participate believing their vote will make no difference.
So now we approach the election of 2012 when Bob Casey is running for re-election as U. S. senator in Pennsylvania . While pondering the picture of Senator Casey, one cannot help but question the lack of wisdom exhibited by ratification of the 17th Amendment. Instead of the sitting Senator being closely tied to his state as the Founders intended, Senator Casey portrays himself as being a servant to the sitting President. His picture in his senatorial office is truly worth a thousand words. It reflects the diametrical opposite to what the Founders intended.
Again referencing the Federalist Papers, No. 64, John Jay makes it clear that the Founders desired to avoid elections by the people “where the activity of party zeal” takes advantage of the electorate. Party zeal and obedience to President Obama have been portrayed throughout Senator Casey’s current term. While the Pennsylvania electorate is belittled by the President as those who cling to their guns and religion, the sitting senator turns his back on the people of Pennsylvania and professes his unqualified support for the President with a 98% voting record favoring Obama Progressivism. Further illustrating Senator Casey’s disdain for Pennsylvania citizens, as well as the traditions of our great country, was his appearance as one of the keynote speakers at the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit held in January, 2011 at Pittsburgh.
Rather than representing the state of Pennsylvania as intended by the Founders, Senator Casey has identified himself as a part of the Progressive Movement that portrays its anti-American ideology through various radical organizations. His behavior and his record have defined him as being part of the Soros/Obama transformation of America. Perhaps Senator Casey should describe what America looks like when the Progressive Movement completes this transformation process that he so eagerly embraces.
Concerning corruption being a detriment to the original Constitutional intent, an attorney friend stated firmly that it would be much better to have the corruption closer to the people at the state level rather than being buried in the huge Washington bureaucracy. This statement is validated by the fact that over 30% of the money donated to Senator Casey comes from outside of Pennsylvania from various special interests. Also, consider the huge amount of money that George Soros and his allies pour through various PACs into the Democrat Party for support of Democrat candidates. As Eli Pariser of the Soros funded MoveOn.org stated after the 2004 election cycle concerning the Democrat Party: “Now it is our party, we bought it, we own it...”
In closing, as we watch dishonesty being the rule rather than the exception at all levels of political discourse, it is worthwhile to again consider the original intent of the Founders where State Legislatures would select those men who are most distinguished by their abilities and virtues. With 23 Democrat seats up for re-election, now is the time to elect conservatives who value the Constitution and roll back the Progressive Movement. The 17th Amendment would be a great starting place.
No Pennsylvania Senator should be ideologically tied to the President as a part of OBAMA’S PEOPLE which the Pennsylvania elections of 2010 made perfectly clear. However, 2010 was only a starting point and many Americans do not recognize the threat posed by the Progressive Movement which still holds the power in Washington DC by having infiltrated the federal government through the election of officials who blindly follow the transformation leaders to a destination that has never been defined to the American people.
When the Founders created our Republic, it was their intention that the two senators from each state were to be representative of the political policies and direction of the individual state. With this objective in mind, Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution establishes the Senate as follows: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.”
Among the various reasons that the Founders considered when designating the State Legislatures was their desire and intent to assemble a select assembly. Quoting John Jay from No. 64 of the Federalist Papers: “…as the State Legislatures who appoint the senators will in general be composed of the most enlightened and respectable citizens, there is reason to presume that their attention and their votes will be directed to those men only who have become the most distinguished by their abilities and virtue, and in whom the people perceive just grounds for confidence.”
Throughout the 19th century, there were various calls to change the senator selection process to a direct election by the people. Among the reasons given for changing the selection process were corruption charges at the state level during the selection process while the Populous and Progressive Movements pushed from the perspective of pure democracy. Eventually, during the heights of the Progressive Movement of Woodrow Wilson, the selection process was changed by the ratification of the 17th Amendment on April 8, 1913. The 17th Amendment simply changed the appointment by the State Legislative bodies to a direct election of the people from each state.
Fast forward to 2012. The worst of the Founders fears is now playing out across our country as we now talk about how much money it will take to win an election, we now hear that 20% of the voters don’t make up their minds until the last two months before an election, we now see radio and television ads of questionable integrity designed to sway the voters, we now see multiple special interest groups outside of the state influencing elections, we see disinterest at all levels of society, we see the Hollywood image trumping enlightenment, and sadly we see elections where the majority of the voters do not participate believing their vote will make no difference.
So now we approach the election of 2012 when Bob Casey is running for re-election as U. S. senator in Pennsylvania . While pondering the picture of Senator Casey, one cannot help but question the lack of wisdom exhibited by ratification of the 17th Amendment. Instead of the sitting Senator being closely tied to his state as the Founders intended, Senator Casey portrays himself as being a servant to the sitting President. His picture in his senatorial office is truly worth a thousand words. It reflects the diametrical opposite to what the Founders intended.
Again referencing the Federalist Papers, No. 64, John Jay makes it clear that the Founders desired to avoid elections by the people “where the activity of party zeal” takes advantage of the electorate. Party zeal and obedience to President Obama have been portrayed throughout Senator Casey’s current term. While the Pennsylvania electorate is belittled by the President as those who cling to their guns and religion, the sitting senator turns his back on the people of Pennsylvania and professes his unqualified support for the President with a 98% voting record favoring Obama Progressivism. Further illustrating Senator Casey’s disdain for Pennsylvania citizens, as well as the traditions of our great country, was his appearance as one of the keynote speakers at the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit held in January, 2011 at Pittsburgh.
Rather than representing the state of Pennsylvania as intended by the Founders, Senator Casey has identified himself as a part of the Progressive Movement that portrays its anti-American ideology through various radical organizations. His behavior and his record have defined him as being part of the Soros/Obama transformation of America. Perhaps Senator Casey should describe what America looks like when the Progressive Movement completes this transformation process that he so eagerly embraces.
Concerning corruption being a detriment to the original Constitutional intent, an attorney friend stated firmly that it would be much better to have the corruption closer to the people at the state level rather than being buried in the huge Washington bureaucracy. This statement is validated by the fact that over 30% of the money donated to Senator Casey comes from outside of Pennsylvania from various special interests. Also, consider the huge amount of money that George Soros and his allies pour through various PACs into the Democrat Party for support of Democrat candidates. As Eli Pariser of the Soros funded MoveOn.org stated after the 2004 election cycle concerning the Democrat Party: “Now it is our party, we bought it, we own it...”
In closing, as we watch dishonesty being the rule rather than the exception at all levels of political discourse, it is worthwhile to again consider the original intent of the Founders where State Legislatures would select those men who are most distinguished by their abilities and virtues. With 23 Democrat seats up for re-election, now is the time to elect conservatives who value the Constitution and roll back the Progressive Movement. The 17th Amendment would be a great starting place.
No Pennsylvania Senator should be ideologically tied to the President as a part of OBAMA’S PEOPLE which the Pennsylvania elections of 2010 made perfectly clear. However, 2010 was only a starting point and many Americans do not recognize the threat posed by the Progressive Movement which still holds the power in Washington DC by having infiltrated the federal government through the election of officials who blindly follow the transformation leaders to a destination that has never been defined to the American people.
posted by Timothy Birdnow | 4:19 AM
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