Good morning my fellow anarchists..(just kidden). I hope you all (I guess all would just encompass my cat, since I think he is the only one that really reads this) filled out your Census forms on April 1st; I did and mailed it back. Today’s topic is the 16th and 17th Amendments. These two amendments did more to increase the hold of the federal government than any other amendments, in my opinion, both amendments had unforeseen consequences on our country, the 16th established the income tax, and anyone with any clue knows where that leads….how does the saying go, there are 2 constants in life; death and taxes!! Well, our friends at FairTax.org have the solution!
This brings us to the 17th Amendment. What is the 17th Amendment you ask? Why it is the amendment that did more harm to state’s right than any other amendment. Up until 1913, Senators were elected by their state officials, after this amendment was passed, they were elected by popular vote, making, in all actual respects, a 2nd House of Representatives. But D, why did this happen? Well, sit on my knee and listen to a story……
The amendment took a long time to come. It was not until 1820 that a resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution to provide for direct elections of senators. And not until after the Civil War, in 1870, did calls for altering the system begin in earnest. But 43 years passed before the change was actually made. –http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/09/17/fl.dean.17th.amendment/
What does this matter you ask? The original framework of our country, as set up by our Founding Fathers, was full of compromises. And our representative style of government was loosely styled on British Parliament. The Northern states wanted both houses filled by population (House of Representatives), the Southern states wanted equal number of representatives (Senate). So a compromise was found, one house based upon population, and one upon the number of states. It had never dawned on me that until some discussions today that both houses are elected by popular vote. The senators no longer do the will of their home states, but the supposed will of their masses that elected them. I believe that the senators should go back to doing the will of the State, and as such the state should choose their senators. So sign me up; let’s repeal the 16th & 17th Amendments!
Have a good day, and let’s be careful out there…til next time…
Jeromy Theo
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