Our Founding Fathers installed a bicameral legislature that consisted of a people’s house and a house to represent the states. The House of Representative is the people’s house. The Senate used to represent the states.

For those with an interest in history, maybe you recall that it was a compromise to share power between big states and little states. It was more than that. At the time of our founding, the House represented the people and Senators, that were selected by State Legislators, represented the states. The Senate kept the House from taking rights away from the states. This was abolished by the progressives of the early 20th century. The 17th Amendment changed the Constitution in 1913 so that Senators are now elected by the people as well.

There are no advocates for the states at the national level any longer. The consequence has been an erosion of states rights…and I’m not talking in racial code words. I believe decisions are better when they are closer to home.

Let’s use abortion as an example with some made up numbers to describe a point. Let’s say 90% of New York likes the idea of unlimited abortion. Let’s say 90% of Texas likes the idea of very limited abortion. If we say at a federal level that we agree with either side, then 50% (90% in one state and 10% in the other) are dissatisfied. It doesn’t matter what the national decision is. If each state is allowed to make its own decision, then 90% of both states are satisfied.

Contentious issues are better handled at the state level, but we have no one left in Washington fighting to keep issues out of Washington…thanks to the progressives of Wilson’s era. Since that era, Washington has gotten more powerful and the states are left to do the bidding of Washington.

We have strayed a long way from the intent of our founding fathers. We have repealed other bad amendments from that era. It is time to repeal the 17th amendment.

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