Would term limits fix our broken government?

The Silentmajority ^ | 04-10-10 | Robert Ehrenkaufer

[Lexluthor69]

Term limits may be the answer to what ails Washington. Its truly amazing when one stops to consider that there are Senators and Congressmen who have served upwards of 50 years in office. While it is possible for a politician to remain untarnished by corruption for that lenght of time it is unlikely.

I have compiled this list of the longest serving Senators and Congressmen. I have to take my hat off to those who have dedicated thier lives to public service. It is a noble and worthy cause. Having said that maybe we should question why the people of this country chose to limit presidents to only 8 years.

[fatnotlazy]

Might be nice to get some new blood every few years. Unfortunately, there are too many idiots in both parties; so even if one has a term limit, there will be another from the same party to take his/her place. We could use some fresh thinkers.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

not term limits but limit the amount of time these criminals spend in congress. Make them govern during the Summer months in DC when it’s the hottest and most unbearable.

[Cheetahcat]

It would help, ONE term then home!

[plinyelder]

There is NOTHING that will fix Government .. Nothing!

ONLY the FEAR of Not doing what you were elected to do will solve what we are going through.

The Government doesn’t fear us!

I’m sorry but .. It’s too late to solve this problem and .. The Government knows this!

Only arms will solve this problem and there aren’t enough Patriots to do the job!

We Are Lost and .. They Know It!

[Jolla]

Does not appear to have helped too much in California.

[Viking2002]

Pay them minimum wage, let there be a raise referendum on the national ballot every two years, and schedule them to work 40 hours, in rotating shifts. Let's see how many of them want to make a career out of it then. Sauce for the goose.

[GeronL]

Won’t hurt.

But its not the Cure alone.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

12 years, max.

A single 12-year term for Senate, 4 three-year terms for House, two six-year terms for POTUS

[stevem]

Would term limits fix our broken government?

I can't hurt. It can help if we can unload clowns that secure their positions spending other people's money.

It can also help if we can unload altruists who base their altruism on other people's money.

[screaminsunshine]

The failure is by the people who vote for them.

[pepsionice]

Actually, I was thinking of a more creative fix. A state legislature can create a measure where you have to be within state borders for a specified period (265 days would suit this case) if you wanted to be considered a state figure or citizen for any office within that state. So if you want to be a state attorney general or a sheriff or a US Representative...you’d have to show you were within the state 265 days.

Naturally, this would trigger every congressman to fight this in court. But if you only had one hundred days to travel on exotic trips to France in American interest, or sit around DC making fine speeches to empty rooms...you’d have to count each and everyday.

Face it...we have made the whole senate and house....into Hollywood. If you limited them and said they had to associate with their own statesmen back in Arkansas or Texas or Kansas....to grasp what was important to them...rather than some media group in DC...you might actually get something accomplished.

[mad_as_he$$]

Two term for politicians. One in office and one in jail.

[ken21]

the founders would never have understood

our lawyer and bureaucratic and career-for-life

washington elite culture.

[fhayek]

Here's my idea. And I know that it is a real fantasy, but here goes. Congress, and the Senate are picked at random, sort of like they pick jurys. In Congress you serve for one three year term, with a third being picked each year. The Senate serves for six years, as now. Congressmen are paid the average of what they made for the past three years. The names of these new legislators are not known, they only go by a number, so no one knows who anyone is or how much they made before their service. They are issued uniforms to prevent them from distinguishing themselves with expensive clothes. No one can directly contact the legislators, and anyone caught taking a bribe gets 25 years in prison. There is no need to raise campaign money, as there are no campaigns. After your term is over, you go back to your job. No lobbying, no campaigns, just ordinary people making using their God-given common sense,

[KrisKrinkle]

“Would term limits fix our broken government?”

Not in and of itself. The professional staffers would become the power behind the throne so to speak. They’d have the expertise on how to get things done and be able to slow roll or high ball legislation. Something would have to be done about that too.

[ken21]

and not to mention

the increasing number of wives, daughters and sons

assuming political offices.

[Linda Frances]

Term limits, YES. We also need to change the rules so politicians can't get Cadillac health care plan for the rest of their lives
after serving one term. That's outrageous whoever voted for that. I want to see the next presidential candidate say he will stop all the goodies for these people. I'm sure there are other goodies we don't know about.