THE SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT--GOOD OR BAD?

I have been writing about the signers of our Declaration of Independence for some time now, and will continue to do so.  But this being an election year, and one of great importance, I feel compelled to ask this question; is the Seventeenth Amendment good or bad?
If you have your copy of the Constitution go to Article 1, Section 3.  "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature hereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one Vote."
What was the purpose of choosing our Senate this way when the Congress was voted by the people at large?  Did the founders not trust the people?  Not at all- the Senator was sent to Washington to protect the interests of the individual State!  They answered directly to the needs of their State.
It was a system that served it's purpose very well for more than one hundred years.
The Seventeenth Amendment to our Constitution changed that election process to the popular vote that we use today, ratified and made law in 1913.
Today's election process has become a constant campaign for votes.  Elections are no sooner over than the process is started all over again.  Would it not be nice to, at least, see the upper body of Congress busy at work on the problems of their respective State---Hmmm?Medicineman!

FRANCIS LEWIS, SIGNER NUMBER 17

Born in Wales in 1713, the only son of an Episcopal clergyman, and left an orphan at the age of five years, Francis Lewis was raised by a maiden aunt and received a good education becoming proficient in Gaelic, the language of Scotland.  He served an apprenticeship with a merchant and at age twenty one invested his money in merchandise and sailed for New York.  There he formed a business partnership and left part of his goods with him and went to Philadelphia with the rest of his goods.  There he remained for two years.
On returning to New York he married the sister of his partner and they had seven children together.  He spent a lot of time in Europe until the French and Indian war when he became aide to Colonel Mercer at Oswega, when the fort was captured by Montcalm in 1757.  He was held prisoner in Canada until the end of the war.
He was given 5,000acres of land by the British as payment for his service.
He became a delegate for New York in the Colonial Congress in 1765 and when the Stamp Act shut down commerce he retired from business to his country home.  Then he was called to service again and elected a delegate to the General Congress in 1775 and again selected a delegate in 1776 where he became a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Francis remained a member of the  Congress until 1778 and was a staunch opponent of the Tories and while the British possessed Long Island his property was destroyed and his wife confined in prison for several months without a bed or a change of clothes.  Her health was broken and she died two years later.
Lewis died in 1803 at the age of 90 years...Medicineman!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, OOPS, CAN I SAY THAT?

When you think you have seen it all some new thing comes along to cause you to say--HUH!
Megan Kelly appealed to the nation to forgive her rude and insensitive remark---please!  Well now, just what did she say that was so terrible?  Children should dress up for Halloween, you know, like clowns, indians, cowboys, super man, bat man, old man or old woman, witch, etc.  You see what I mean?  Yes and even black face using a little face paint.
Well folks, that is where we have come in just a few short years.  In my lifetime this great country has completely gone bonkers, lost it's collective mind and demonstrated to the whole world that we are just a bunch of rude, snot-nosed, kids constantly picking on one another.  Grow up before it's too late!..Medicineman!

PHILIP LIVINGSTON--1716-1778

Philip's father Robert emigrated to America and obtained a large grant of land on the Hudson river.  There he became very wealthy farming the rich acreage, which came to be known as Livingston's Manor.  When  Robert died, Phillip, the eldest of three sons became heir to the Manor.
Phillip graduated from Yale College and entered the business world in New York.  His honest and upright dealings earned him great respect and trust.
Phillip became an Alderman for the East Ward and served there for nine years.  Then when the Governor of the Colony was made Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy his successor dissolved the Assembly and ordered new elections.  Both Phillip and brother Robert were elected to seats in the new Assembly.  There Phillip quickly became a driving force and several French frontier forts were taken from the French and Canada became a subject.
Phillip resigned from the Assembly when Toryism took over.  In 1774 he was elected to the first Continental Congress and was on the committee that prepared the address to the people of Great Britain; "an address replete with bold and original thoughts, prespicuous propositions and convincing arguments".
The next year a General Congress was formed (the Continental Congress being taken over by tories) and the Declaration of Independence was signed.  Livingston was elected to the senate of New York in 1777 and, although in very poor health he took his seat in 1778, said goodbye to his family and never returned home.  True service to his new country...Medicineman!

THE HONDURAN INVASION!

Mexico has been invaded from the south.  No, not by uniformed troops but by women, children and ADULT, ABLE BODIED  MEN OF FIGHTING AGE!  They claim to have been run out by the gangs and hoodlums and criminal element.  If that is the case, why are these able bodied males not taking up arms and fighting for their country?  They should be ashamed of themselves for invading Mexico instead of forcing the criminal out of Honduras.
Mexico is not their savior and neither are we.  President Trump has vowed to place the U.S. Army on the border to combat the invasion.  If they are not stopped there where do we put them?  Who will feed and clothe them?  Who will treat their illnesses?  WILL YOU?...Medicineman!

MEET WILLIAM FLOYD--GREAT AMERICAN!

William Floyd's grandfather came to this country from Wales in 1680 and settled in Setauket, on Long Island.  There he became a very wealthy farmer.
William was born in 1734.  His wealthy father gave him every opportunity at education and William assumed the duties of the family when his father died suddenly.  He became a vigorous opponent of the oppressive mother country and was elected to the first Continental Congress in 1774.
Floyd became head of the County Militia, was reelected to Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.
The British took his farms and housed troops there, taking his cattle and sheep for food supplies while causing much damage to Floyd's property.  He never received any income  for seven years.
After signing the Declaration of Independence William Floyd became General Floyd and was elected to Congress again and remained there until 1783.  In 1800 he was chosen a Presidential Elector and served in that capacity several times.
He was a vigorous and robust man and in 1784 General Floyd purchased land on the Mohawk and developed and farmed the rich land and rebuilt his fortune.  Floyd was just one example of the kind of citizen who built this Republic!...Medicineman!

OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE---

I feel compelled to leave the snippets of our founders that I have been writing about to point out how Washington, "The Swamp" has taken charge of elected government today.
I am sure that President Trump was not aware of the task he promised to do when elected--Drain the Swamp!
What we see happening in our capitol is "Professional" hired hands ignoring ELECTED office holders and, essentially, taking over.  For instance; The justice department is a part of the Executive Department and everyone who works there serves at the pleasure of the President, and any and all can be replaced any time.  In fact, that is what happened after elections not too many years ago.  Sen. Jeff Sessions (a good honest man) was appointed Attorney General and promptly surrendered his seat to a "hired hand" in Rod Rosenstein who has been in and out of Washington for 30 years as well as his wife.  James Comey, FBI director was fired.  He has been in and out of government leaving once to work for industry and earning a huge bonus before coming back to the "Low pay" of Washington.  Robert Mueller took the special prosecutor job and has spent tons of tax-payer money on a wild goose chase and ruining the lives of some good people.
There are many, many more of the professional "Swamp" employee, not elected by anyone and seem to answer to no one.  Our Republic was never intended to be handled this way!  Of the people, By the people and For the people, great words with great intent have been put aside in favor of, "LET THE PROFESSIONAL HANDLE IT"! .... MEDICINEMAN!