A little story of our country's people and their history in political scenes.
As early as 1894, the Democratic party advocated a tax on income, which was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1909, the U.S. Congress passed the 16th Amendment that authorized the collection of a federal income tax. This was ratified by the required number of states and went into effect in 1913.
In 1917-18, another Democratic President, Woodrow Wilson, declared war on Germany, leading to the outbreak of World War I.
The popular election of U.S. senators by the 17th Amendment destroyed the original intent of separation of powers and, to an extent, subverted the 10th Amendment's intent of states rights, in that the original Constitution states that, "Two Senators from each state shall be chosen by the State Legislatures to serve in Washington and they may be recalled at any time," or words to that effect. The origin was separation of political power rather than concentration of it.
That, friends, is exactly the reason for the U.S. president being chosen under the Electoral College system rather than by popular vote, so that the overpopulated states do not have a bigger voice in Washington than do the states with less people.
This is equal rights in the original intent.
I have seen 12 presidents in office during my life, and at least one who was not elected by popular vote.
Keep the same Constitution and the same system for voting. It works.
Repeal the 17th Amendment and keep the Electoral College. Nevada, for one, needs to keep its independence
The popular vote can certainly be manipulated, or swayed, by the major news media, as it can be used to override the voice of the majority of those states, western mostly, in number, if not in population.
JOHN A. PATTON
Wellington