Posted on 12/15/2014 1:42:13 PM PST by Strawberry AZ
Anyone looking for a good reason to support Mandatory Term Limits for all federal officials need look no further than the headlines. After the most resounding electoral triumph since 1947, Republican Congressional “leaders” were too afraid to do what they were elected to do – check the president's unilateral amnesty grant. They were too afraid to do what’s right for the country, too afraid that they won’t be re-elected. Job One for the Party Elite has become protecting their private power structure, not the Constitution.
During the last legislative session here in Arizona, a majority of constitutional conservatives supported legislation that would have allowed our state legislators to join 33 other states in a national convention to devise a way to end the era of the career politician by proposing, among other things, constitutionally mandated term limits on all federal elected officials. Many believed, as did the Founding Fathers, that our federal delegation should spend their terms in Washington, DC, focused on what’s best for their constituents, not their careers, that they should serve their country for a limited time, then return to their communities and live among the rest of us in the world that they helped to create.
That legislation failed due to time constraints, but a similar bill will be introduced again this year. In preparation, we should all read Article V of the US Constitution. It gives state legislatures the power and authority to circumvent a recalcitrant Congress and propose constitutional remedies, such as term limits or a balanced budget requirement, changes which must then be ratified by 38 states.
Congress will never impose such limits on itself. Article V is a tool provided by the Founders to be used at such a time when Congress ceases to represent its constituency. We should familiarize ourselves with these 143 words, imagining as we read the wisdom and the courage that it took for the Framers of the Constitution to include them. Then we should contact our state representatives and encourage them to do the same... not to save their careers, but to save the republic.
Easy - THROW THE BUMS OUT if they're not doing the right thing...
...and keep them in if they are doing the right thing.
Don't need legislation. Just need the people to get their heads screwed on straight and realize the people, not politicians, are the boss and running the show.
A lawless federal government oligarchy is NEVER going to allow itself to be term limited, or primaried, or thwarted once it has achieved total power by any civil means known to man.
We the people can pass all the “laws” we like, an Oligarchy of the Fascist kind that now rules us has rigged the rules forever in their favor.
It’s a pipe dream to think we can reason with tyrants and ask them to abide by limits to their perpetual power.
What if the people never get around to screwing their heads on straight?
Or worse, what if most people have their heads screwed on straight, and think its a pretty good deal getting free things from government paid for by suckers who work for a living?
What we now have is actually worse than the Iron Law of Oligarchy - what we now have is an Imperial Fascist Oligarchy which combines the absolute worst aspects of Elite Cronyism and despotic dictatorship.
Mussolini would marvel at what the Fabian Socialists, Obama, the Democrats and the GOP have achieved together in this country.
What if I like my elected representative(s)? The good get kicked out with the bad when statutory term limits exist.
For better or worse, I think the decision lies with voters, not a law that says elected officials must give up their positions because of some arbitrary deadline.
per your comment, that only leaves one avenue for Americans to restore the enforcement of our Constitution, unless of course God steps in first
Perhaps a max two terms, followed by mandatory death.
We could make the death pleasant, a la Soylent Green, but this is the only fitting end for those of such weak mind and ability that all they can do is politics.
Let ‘em live the good life for a few years, then convert ‘em to dog food.
Theory should be tempered with experience. Experience has shown that time in office means more power/wealth and less connection with constituents.
I like the idea of term limits.
But with all due respect- saying “They were too afraid to do what’s right for the country “ is total BULLSH*T!
They have willingly helped to FOREVER change the face of our country- and not for the better!
God uses human instrumentality to do His Will.
He did not drop freedom from the tyranny of the crown in the Colonists laps. They had to flight, bleed and die, sacrificing everything in order to achieve what wharf was right in the face of a “lawful” tyranny being erected over them.
Why should we be any different?
Either there are enough of us, like the Tea Party patriots at our founding and now, who can influence change in voter and politicians’ behavior, or individual states with enough of said patriots may have to go it alone, at least in nullifying unconstitutional federal acts and rulings.
We don’t need more federal laws, like we don’t need more federal government. We need less laws and government. More law, like more government, just makes matters worse
Mandatory term limits, and an end to the civil service system.
RECTAL CANCER???
Whether you “like” your representative or not is not the issue here. Term Limits are more in line with what the Founders envisioned, and they are vastly more democratic than the alternative.
They make certain that no district or state will accrue an inequitable amount of power and influence due simply to a representative (or senator) using his or her seniority to ensure re-election.
Few districts with senior representatives willingly turn them out, although, when surveyed, they support Term Limits to “Throw the bums out.”
Term Limits will automatically remove this ingrained and inconsistent inequality.
Term Limits are more in line with what the Founders envisioned, and they are vastly more democratic than the alternative.
They make certain that no district or state will accrue an inequitable amount of power and influence due simply to a representative (or senator) using his or her seniority to ensure re-election.
Few districts with senior representatives willingly turn them out, although, when surveyed, they support Term Limits to “Throw the bums out.”
Term Limits will automatically emove this ingrained and inconsistent inequality.
You know better than most, Jacquerie, that Congress will continue to refuse to aggregate the states’ applications until the subjects are identical, hence the nationwide coordinated effort by the Citizens for Self-Governance Convention of States Project.
Once 34 IDENTICAL applications are filed with Congress, Article V states that Congress SHALL issue the call, no furthers.
I defer... I was generously trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.
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