This is obviously debatable, but there's a lot of evidence that it wasn't ever legally ratified. Some say three states changes their voting rules at the last minute (sound familiar?) to make it appear ratified. Same with the 17th, of course.
17th gutted states rights. and makes it much easier to lobby and payoff 51 or 60 senators for favorable legislation than lobby 3000-odd state legislators.
Since the 16th was never legally ratified..........
Wait, it wasnt? It shouldnt have been ratified, but can you provide me evidence it wasnt?
This is obviously debatable, but there's a lot of evidence that it wasn't ever legally ratified. Some say three states changes their voting rules at the last minute (sound familiar?) to make it appear ratified. Same with the 17th, of course.
There's a lot of resources that discuss this:
https://famguardian.org/Subjects/Taxes/Education/16AmendNotRatified.htm
17th gutted states rights. and makes it much easier to lobby and payoff 51 or 60 senators for favorable legislation than lobby 3000-odd state legislators.