Whoa, what has happened to States Rights?

I don't know how many of you noticed this article in the Washington Times entitled "House OKs Electoral College Bill" but it is about Maryland choosing to have its electoral votes determined by the National Popular vote, rather than a vote of Maryland citizens.

Though I would argue a state is within its rights to cede its power to the National Government, in a case like this it is clearly against the individual States best interest to do so. If this passes, the State of Maryland ceases to be politically important within the framework of Presidential Elections. Presidential Candidates can completely bypass Maryland with no political repercussions.

Now I realize Democrats are still hurt over the 2000 elections, but that doesn't mean you should erode one of the last bulwarks of the States sovereignty. The States themselves need to remember that this country was founded, not by individuals, but by 13 States as a means to more easily administrate common interests like defense, currency, and foreign relations. The States have already given up their rights to self elect Senators from their state legislatures. Now potential Senators are forced to raise millions of dollars to be elect by a popular vote which more often then not just proves who the person who can pander to the most special interest groups is rather than the politician who believes most strongly in their States interests.

The wisdom of the Founding Fathers is more self evident today than it ever was. Obviously the popular vote has a place in this Republic, that is what the House of Representatives is for, to represent the people. But who is around to represent the States? Since the passage of the 17th Amendment, nobody. We now have two branches of government that are not only concerned with the welfare of the people but dependent on it to stay in office. Is it any surprise that these institutions keep voting for more and more social welfare, pork, and ever greater government.

What is wrong with the States these days? Have they forgotten that they too are Republics and have a jurisdiction that is constitutionally granted to them? In fact, they have more powers than the Federal Government because as the 10th Amendment states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Has the 10th Amendment died?