Mike Huckabee on the 17th Amendment: Evil Plot or Great Idea?

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Mike Huckabee on the 17th Amendment: Evil Plot or Great Idea?

14 HOURS AGO Ryan McMaken

Following the US Senate's failure to pass a bill repealing Obamacare, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee decided that the Senate would do a better job if the 17th Amendment were repealed. Huckabee took to twitter and said:

Time to repeal 17th Amendment. Founders had it right-Senators chosen by state legislatures. Will work for their states and respect 10th am[endment.]

Huckabee, of course, is referring the Constitutional amendment that altered the method by which US Senators are elected. Prior to the Amendment's passage in 1913, Senators were — at least in theory and on paper — selected by the state legislature in each state. Since the amendment was adopted, Senators are selected via popular vote in each state. 

The response to Huckabee's very brief missive was fairly predictable. Reactions ranged from pearl-clutching horror at Gizmodo to Allen West's declaration that repealing the Amendment would force Senators to take marching orders from state legislators.  

The government we have today reflects these ideological realities, and to undo the problems that many modern opponents of the 17th Amendment see, the task is far greater than they think. The answer lies in truly changing the minds of the majority of Americans, including the elites. Once that change occurs, it won't really matter how many Senators there are, or how how they get elected.