Why Do We Directly Elect US Senators?

 Until the 17th Amendment passed in 1913, Senators were elected by state legislature.  After the 17th Amendment was adopted, Senators were elected directly by the voters in each state.  Why did it change?

Historically, the 17th Amendment was, in large part, a reaction to Senator William A. Clark, who bought his Senate election by bribing the entire Montana State Legislature in 1899.  Clark was a Montana Copper King.  In purchasing power, some people think he was the richest American ever.  Clark is on record as seeing the US Senate as an exclusive club he wanted to buy his way into.

With modern 24/7 news coverage and national communication, I think it's unlikely that anyone would be able to buy a state legislature today.

The benefit of having US Senators selected by state legislators was that it gave the states direct input into how the federal government was run.  At the moment, state governments have no influence on the federal government.  In fact, the federal government coerces the states by paying them, or withholding from them, federal money.

Some folks would like to repeal the 17th Amendment, and return the selection of Senators to the state legislatures.  What do you think?  Please leave me a comment.

California: You Too Can Have Rolling Blackouts and Wildfires

 The state of California is so busy "following the science," they don't have time to pay any attention to the engineering.  The left seems to believe that, "So let it be written, so let it be done," actually works in real life, not just in the movie The Ten Commandments (1956).

The best thing about California is that the same policies can be yours if you vote for Democrats in the next election.  If you vote early, by mail, we can double your order, for a small addition to your taxes.  So act now, and experience the joy of rolling blackouts "saving the planet!"  /sarcasm

Why Vikings Left Greenland

One explanation could be that Vikings massively switched to renewable energy, recognized and apologized for their white privilege, and abandoned their Greenland settlements to the native population.  The Vikings then returned home to found perfect socialist utopias. 

Alternatively, it was warmer in the Medieval Warm Period than it is today, and the theory of anthropomorphic global warming is malarkey.  It got too cold for Vikings to farm in Greenland. 

As the holder of an MS in Statistics, I think the latter alternative is way more likely.

Judging by Skin Color is Racism

Judging people strictly by skin color is racism.  It doesn't become correct just because the skin color judged inferior is white.  All men and women are created equal.  My 4-year-old blonde grandson shouldn't be taught that he has white privilege that he has to apologize for.  His Black playmates shouldn't be taught they are superior.  They are friends now, but they won't be if they get "woke."  The civil rights struggle was for a color-blind society, not for superiority in a racial spoils system.  Discrimination on the basis of race is illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The way to stop discriminating by race is to stop doing it, period.