[neverdem]

It can be reasonably argued that term limits would actually serve to limit the choice of the voters -- an arbitrary limit effectively forbids them from keeping a representative they might wish to keep. And, demonstrably, term limits would tend to shift power to the legislative staff and the bureaucracy -- parties who are unelected and, thus, unaccountable.

There are at least a few reasons that I think term limits would help, IMHO. The longer these politicians stay in any government, the greater potential there is for them to become corrupt. It decreases the need for them to "go along to get along." It also decreases the need to "bring home the bacon."

As for shifting power to the legislative staff and the bureaucracy, that was needed before the computer when all these laws, regulations and rules were on paper. With computers and the internet, much of the staff and bureaucracy could be eliminated.

P.S. I don't think session limits in Congress are a bad idea for regular business.

[okie01]

As for shifting power to the legislative staff and the bureaucracy, that was needed before the computer when all these laws, regulations and rules were on paper. With computers and the internet, much of the staff and bureaucracy could be eliminated.

Agreed. Yet, paradoxically, legislative staff and bureaucracy have exploded since the Computer Age began.

Gee. I wonder why... Couldn't be Congressmen hiring staff to do the job they were elected to do -- like reading bills and authoring legislation-- could it?

[Carry_Okie]

The longer these politicians stay in any government, the greater potential there is for them to become corrupt.

I just don't buy that. Can you say that about Tom Coburn or James Inhofe?

It decreases the need for them to "go along to get along."

As opposed to the need for relying upon more experienced staffers we don't elect to explain how things work?

It also decreases the need to "bring home the bacon."

This is just not true. With term limits, it takes LESS money to buy a candidate, run him, and offer him a cushy job on the back side up front. It also increases the likelihood for a chain of complete unknowns running for office with little identifiable record by which to qualify their integrity under pressure.

With computers and the internet, much of the staff and bureaucracy could be eliminated.

Please explain the basis for this claim.

Really, our experience in California has EXACTLY fit the model I am suggesting. I ask that you investigate this idea further.