Posted on 11/01/2010 1:20:45 PM PDT by Pete
Across the land, the cry is heard: Throw the bums out! The people are prepared to do exactly that on Tuesday, but there's a catch. There's little to stop today's insurgent from becoming tomorrow's bum. Or, as a pessimist once said, many reformers take office to do good and stay to do well.
Take heart, optimists, for there is an antidote to the corrupting disease of permanent poweritis. Term limits. They are a blunt instrument and they work.
They do it by forcing the turnover that the power of incumbency too often thwarts. By using gerrymandering, earmarks, favors for contributors and election laws to thwart challengers, too many incumbents get comfortable in office and make keeping it their mission.
Public service then become private service, which helps to explain how so many lifetime pols leave office filthy rich -- emphasis on filthy.
Power corrupts, so prevention is the best medicine.
Presidents are limited to two terms by the Constitution's 22nd Amendment, passed in 1951, to stop another FDR, who shattered the tradition of two terms by winning four.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Both issues are about realigning the power structure in our country consistent with the founders' intentions. This work is going on now and the mainstream media and political elites don't see it because they are too busy worrying about who gets to pick committee chairmanships. If you want to see it, try entering Term limits or 10th amendment into Google news. You will find news stories from across the country seemingly unrelated. But remember, the Tea Party is a decentralized system with no head so the activities taking place are not easily seen let alone connected unless you look.
Why would a bunch of career politicians vote for a law that would end their careers?
That’s like wanting them to pass a law limiting the amount of money they spend and collect during elections.
Or wanting them to pass a healthcare bill that includes themselves.
The only term limits that work occur at the ballot box.
10th Amendment Rally For State of Independence
What's next is already here. Let the media and political elites chew on the election results. We are moving on. There is work to do.
Nobody said it was going to be easy. What if instead of 10 tea party candidates, we had 50 in 2012 and 100 in 2014. Things can change.
Otherwise, you're just interfering with my desire to vote for the candidate of my choice.
“They are a blunt instrument and they work.”
The time for finesse and nuance is over.
Term limits turned out to be bad in California. I am sorry I voted for it. The state senators and assemblymen(women) we have now are much worse than we had before. Willie Brown was not as bad as the buffoons we have now. It pains me to say it.
The only term limits that work occur at the ballot box.
You are correct my friend. I have always been 100% AGAINST term limits. Term limits are a restriction on ME, and who I can vote for. It’s that simple.
From Wikipedia, U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995)[1], was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that states cannot impose qualifications for prospective members of the U.S. Congress stricter than those specified in the Constitution. The decision invalidated the Congressional term limit provisions of 23 states. The parties to the case were U.S. Term Limits, a non-profit advocacy group, and the politician Ray Thornton, among others.
Scotus has ruled that states may not term limit Congressmen nor Senators. The ruling stinks.
If things were ideal and voters truly were involved then there would be no career politicians, unfortunately it’s not the case. Since those people who do not believe in term limits felt so strongly, why is that bloomberg who cancelled term limits, now changed it back. Career politicians come about from the lazy masses. Limit elected officials to ten years, if they can’t get it done. They will never get it.
1. Term limits for all elected office holders. Preferably no more than 2 terms. Maximum 4 years per term.
2. Pension and benefit plans abolished for all elected office holders.
3. All state and federal government employee unions outlawed.
I think this alone would help a lot. Apply it to all elected office holders and their staff. Then, perhaps, you'd get people who do a stint as service then return to their real jobs.
Must do something about these “staffers” who run things and just rotate among those in power.
That's the exact desired result I'm looking for and (I believe) what our founding fathers meant to be done.
Do you feel the same way about the position of president? I’m all for term limits.
Not true. Half the population pay NO taxes, so they vote for whoever gives them the most. It’s the biggest reason for pork.
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