Scott Perry's 17th Amendment Push Sparks Outcry Over Senate Control
Republican lawmakers, including Scott Perry, are pushing to repeal the 17th Amendment, which currently allows voters to elect U.S. Senators. This move would let state legislatures appoint senators, potentially enabling gerrymandering and reducing voter influence.
Commenters are sharply divided. Many argue the proposal is a Republican strategy to consolidate power, with users like freshcow claiming it would let Republicans gerrymander state legislatures to maintain Senate control. Others, like osanna, call it a clear example of fascist logic, stripping voters of democratic rights. Meanwhile, BlueZen notes that repealing the amendment would require a new one, needing 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of states, making it politically improbable. UnderpantsWeevil adds a global angle, suggesting the U.S. and Australia are part of a larger far-right movement.
The consensus is that the push is seen as an effort to centralize power and suppress voter influence. While some argue it’s a legitimate constitutional process, the majority view it as a transparent attempt to entrench Republican control. The debate highlights a stark divide between those who see it as a power grab and those who view it as a restoration of original intent.
Key Points
#1Repealing the 17th Amendment would allow state legislatures to appoint senators, potentially enabling gerrymandering.
freshcow argues this would let Republicans maintain Senate control by manipulating state legislatures.
#2The proposal is seen as a Republican power consolidation strategy.
osanna and Nastybutler label it as fascist logic aimed at stripping voters of democratic rights.
#3Repealing the amendment would require a new constitutional process, which is politically unlikely.
BlueZen highlights the need for 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of states, making it improbable.
#4The 14th Amendment already allows for state legislature appointments in case of vacancies.
TrippaSnippa points out the proposal is not a new idea.
#5The push is framed as a restoration of original intent by some.
Some argue it’s a legitimate constitutional process to return to the Founding Fathers' vision.
#6The movement is part of a larger global far-right trend.
UnderpantsWeevil suggests the U.S. and Australia are part of a global fascist project supported by oligarchs.
Source Discussions (4)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.