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[–] j_Dawg_01 0 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago 

Isn't this just more rule by decree and going against the will of the voters?

No it isn't. It 100% aligned with the original Constitution for the United States of America.

Prior to the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1912, all US Senators were appointed by each State's legislature. Their salary and compensation was paid by the state they represented and they could be called back and replaced at any time, for any reason.

If you want to remove the influence of money in politics, a good place to start would be to repeal the 17th amendment. Any political donations to any sitting Senator would be, by definition, an illegal bribe since Senators would never have to campaign. They would be selected and appointed instead.

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[–] PGLiterati2 0 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago 

I wonder if it wouldn't just make state legislatures more corrupt as the influence peddling would then focus on them. William Clark infamously bought himself a Senate seat, in fact that's one reason they passed the 17th amendment. At the time he was the richest man in America. He owned a paper and used that for influence peddling, and he bought off a bunch of legislators. Check it out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_A._Clark I think we have to impose term limits and other reforms.....

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[–] j_Dawg_01 ago 

I think we have to impose term limits and other reforms.....

I agree, Term Limits would help too.

But... Passing the 17th Amendment didn't stop Senate seats from being bought and sold. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was convicted for trying to sell Barak Obama's Illinois State Senate seat after he became a US Senator. My question has always been this: If the seat was for-sale when Obama left, is it possible it was for sale before Obama showed up? It is Chicago/Illinois after all.

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[–] coulditbe4Q 0 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago 

Excellent point. I would settle for term limits. This alone would cure much opportunity for corruption.

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[–] Anon-Dan 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Yes, make them leave office after they made their million in bribes and kickbacks. At least we could cap it a 1 million dollars.

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[–] scoripowarrior 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

I am in 💯 agreement with that!