If you can’t see reasons behind this, you’re wearing horse-blinders in these chaotic days. I’d propose a single 2-year term for Representatives, a single FOUR-year term for Senators, and a single 10-year term for Justices. These term limits are intended as much for damage-control as they are for discouraging career politicians and political dynasties that have ruined us - along with the stranglehold that lobbyists have held for decades. Term-limits might even resurrect the principle of public-service over self-service. And now, I’m going to check transportation schedules for Fantasy Island.
3 Likes
While I don’t necessarily have anything against term limits I don’t think they will solve the underlying problems. We have had term limits for President since Rosevelt and it hasn’t managed to reduce the level of corruption in the White House.
I’d rather see a better educated and informed voter base to keep these kleptocrats from being elected to their first terms instead of forcing them to pass the torch to the next crooked politician after the damage is done. Then these crooks just move into corporate or consulting positions where they continue to manipulate and control the system from behind the curtain anyways.
Once you let the infestation through the door it is pretty much impossible to stop regardless of how many cockroaches you kick out.
5 Likes
P.S. - I forgot to justify my term-limit for Justices - when the Supreme Court was established, the Justices were given life-terms because the average lifespan in the U.S. was around 50 - they were expected to retire because of age or infirmity, or die in office. John Marshall must’ve surprised them ALL!
2 Likes
I think I’m more in favor of competency testing to hopefully weed out the Fettermans and Doing Others Biding. These two are only puppets on a string.
4 Likes
The term-limits I’ve suggested would DISCOURAGE many from even thinking about political careers - one example I’ve mentioned in the past is Ted Kennedy - he was a permanent resident of the Senate for 42 years - I’m 73 now, so since I was 12, we had to endure his disgusting, disgraceful shenanigans. A progression from the House to the Senate would still limit an office-holder to 6 years total, unless he or she ran for President.
3 Likes
Biden is the classic example for this topic. 50 years and he named a post office, got his son a job in the Ukrainian power system which he knew nothing about. The people of Delaware should be ashamed just as the people of Massachusetts and Ted.
Very wealthy people are able to buy the politicians they want, it takes money to get elected, that needs to be fixed.
Gene
6 Likes
Welcome to the community @Gene45
I agree that the money required to get ahead in the system, where that money comes from and what is expected in return is where most of the issues come from.
Instead of getting politicians that want to serve the pubic we are getting ones that expect the public to serve them and their big money backers.
5 Likes
Six years is plenty of time to cash in if you play your cards right. Plus you get to add in the time spent in the various State offices many of these politicians serve in on their climb up the kleptocratic ladder to DC.
Plus if there was someone in DC truly doing their best to help the country and the people they represent I’m not sure I would want to boot them out just because they reached a time limit. I know those people don’t exist any more but maybe we can get lucky and find a unicorn out there some day?
1 Like
In the Roman republic, strict term limits were imposed on all public offices. Romans also employed dual office holders – e.g., the office of Consul, the highest elected public official until 27AD when Emperors came on the scene had two Consul, which meant they both had to be in agreement to do anything.
I voted for Trump because the very first thing he promised to do in his first 100 days in office in his Gettysburg address in October 2016, was to propose A constitutional amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress. Even though he described this promise and 27 other promises as a contract between Donald J Trump and the American voters, he failed to follow through. From where I sit, he lied to get my vote. I won’t be fooled again.
4 Likes
The issue with that number is that many people that did not fall due to disease, war, etc., such as many of our founding fathers, lived to “ripe old ages”, no different than today. The difference is not so much health care today, but the causes that typically killed babies and young adults, disease (in the babies) and war in the youth.
2 Likes
That explains a lot. The age limit for this forum is 72.
3 Likes
Keep on livin’ my friend.
3 Likes
Our Founding Father’s felt that felt that no one should serve in Congress more than 12 years. And that was because they felt that serving longer they would loose contact with the people by being away for to long. And that they’d start doing what their party wanted as a whole and not what the people wanted them to do for them. It was also that the time understood that when they left office that they would go back to they were doing before they were elected to office.
6 Likes
Does anyone remember Will Rogers, the trick-roper, cowboy-comedian and philosopher? One of his enduring quotes - and I’m paraphrasing - is, “We don’t have CHEAP politicians in this country - we have the best politicians money can BUY!”. He was the George Carlin of his day, minus the profanity. If anyone wants to see examples of his trick-roping - a lost art these days - watch THE ROPIN’ FOOL - a silent film shot in 1922. He didn’t use a coil of rope just for a prop - one of his amazing tricks shown in real time and slow-motion was his “figure 8”, where he catches a horse’s neck and forelegs.
6 Likes
I felt the same way…I was really hopeful for the term limits
3 Likes
Will Rogers is an excellent example of the opportunity that American offers. He came from nothing, became a millionaire, lost it all and became a millionaire again. Of course he didn’t have the taxes and regulations we have now.
3 Likes
If you research his quotes, can you imagine how the asinine WOKE and CANCEL-CULTURE twits - and they ARE twits - would’ve reacted to them? Four of the most satisfying words in the English language that especially apply today are, “I told you so.”
4 Likes