Outgoing Georgia Senator Miller proposes doing away with Elections

[dmcowen674]

4-29-2004 Miller: Abolish 17th Amendment

Washington - Zell Miller's maverick tendencies as a U.S. senator reached an all-time high today when he proposed eliminating the U.S. Constitution's 17th Amendment and going back to the days when senators were appointed by legislatures rather than elected by voters.

On the Senate floor, Miller said, "The individuals are not so much at fault as the rotten and decaying foundation of what is no longer a republic. It is the system that stinks. And it's only going to get worse because that perfect balance our brilliant founding fathers put in place in 1787 no longer exists."

His resolution would repeal the 17th Amendment and again let legislatures pick the members of the upper chamber.
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Heil Miller!

 

[LordMagnusKain]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
4-29-2004 Miller: Abolish 17th Amendment

Washington - Zell Miller's maverick tendencies as a U.S. senator reached an all-time high today when he proposed eliminating the U.S. Constitution's 17th Amendment and going back to the days when senators were appointed by legislatures rather than elected by voters.

On the Senate floor, Miller said, "The individuals are not so much at fault as the rotten and decaying foundation of what is no longer a republic. It is the system that stinks. And it's only going to get worse because that perfect balance our brilliant founding fathers put in place in 1787 no longer exists."

His resolution would repeal the 17th Amendment and again let legislatures pick the members of the upper chamber.
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Heil Miller!

That?s what a representative republic is about. Having a more indirect election of senators would give some power back to the legislatures of the various states, hopefully putting an end to un-constitutional acts like 'no child left behind';

It would also move them a little higher above the political fray and actually work towards reasonable compromise.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
4-29-2004 Miller: Abolish 17th Amendment

Washington - Zell Miller's maverick tendencies as a U.S. senator reached an all-time high today when he proposed eliminating the U.S. Constitution's 17th Amendment and going back to the days when senators were appointed by legislatures rather than elected by voters.

On the Senate floor, Miller said, "The individuals are not so much at fault as the rotten and decaying foundation of what is no longer a republic. It is the system that stinks. And it's only going to get worse because that perfect balance our brilliant founding fathers put in place in 1787 no longer exists."

His resolution would repeal the 17th Amendment and again let legislatures pick the members of the upper chamber.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Heil Miller!

That?s what a representative republic is about. Having a more indirect election of senators would give some power back to the legislatures of the various states, hopefully putting an end to un-constitutional acts like 'no child left behind';

It would also move them a little higher above the political fray and actually work towards reasonable compromise.

Basically turn the Senators into Judges?

 

[Jhhnn]

Ahh, yes, more "States' Rights"- the battle cry of bigotry and cronyism since the civil war.

What Zell fails to mention is the growth of computerized gerrymandering, where the legislatures basically pick which party will represent their state in the House of Representatives- a 51% majority yeilds an 80% representation. Craftily implemented, it can provide majority representation for a minority party. Only a major political windshift can unseat an incumbent representative under this scenario...

At least the state-wide election of Senators is free of this kind of manipulation, allowing a true expression of the will of the people.