I’ve previously made my case as to why I think trying to repeal the 17th Amendment is not a good use of constitutional conservatives’ time. Ramesh Ponnuru has also weighed in against the idea. I’d only add two points: 1.) While we don’t have anywhere near enough limited-government senators, I’d be willing to bet we have more than we’d have if state legislators were still choosing them; 2.) I think supporters of repeal are right about the problems the popular election of senators helped worsen or create, but wrong to think any of these problems would be solved by repealing the 17th Amendment now.
