Before you start saying the Founders never envisioned, try actually knowing what the Founders said at the Convention. You’d be surprised just how wise they were and how prophetically aware they were of the dangers of government. Remember: there is nothing new under the sun.
It’s the damn progressives and people coming from socialist and statist Europe that have ruined it claiming the Founders were old-timers too stupid to be aware of what came in the future.
https://teachingamericanhistory.org/exhibits/
Madison’s Notes of Debates, the Federalist papers, and the Anti-Federalist papers would be a good start.
Otherwise you sound like a whiny imprudent demoract without principles lamenting the terriblely stupid Founders on one day and loving them when it is convenient on the next.
We already have term limits they’re called elections....problem is voters...and we can’t limit them!!!!
In a republican form of government (guaranteed by Article IV Section 4), the people have a right to choose their representatives. Term limits would abridge that right by disqualifying popular or competent people.
In a single Congressional district, the pool of qualified people is much smaller than a statewide office. If there is a person who lives in a district who has a long-standing presence and interest in that district (a family business, for instance), why shouldn't his neighbors be allowed to send him to Congress as often as they want?
That said, the Senate is totally different. I also don't think that term limits is the solution to lifelong Senators; I think that repealing the 17th amendment is the solution for the Senate. Return selection of Senators to the individual state legislatures and let them choose Senators who will advocate the state's long-term legislative interests to the rest of the states. Senators who fail to successfully align with state interests will be replaced by their home legislatures. If legislatures fail to make changes, then the people can replace their local state assemblymen and state senators who will then choose new Congressional Senators.
That's what a republican form of government looks like.
-PJ
A convention of states is needed to adjust the Constitution to address our immoral people.
Term limits should have been written into the U. S. Constitution from the beginning, e.g. no more than 8 years, and then you are done. Sure would have saved us from a lot of current problems.
Term limits should have been written into the U. S. Constitution from the beginning, e.g. no more than 8 years, and then you are done. Sure would have saved us from a lot of current problems.
How about SEVERE punishment & permanent banishment from public service for those who don’t uphold their oath of office? Caning comes to mind.
How about SEVERE punishment & permanent banishment from public service for those who don’t uphold their oath of office? Caning comes to mind.
As long as the same damn parties run things the cycle of people doesn’t matter. And anybody who thinks sitting Congress critters will vote for term limits just ain’t thinking.
I could not decide whether to start a new thread or resurrect this old one. Maybe I’ll do both!
In this morning’s mail I received a fund raising request from Ted Cruz stating that he has officially introduced legislation to add a Term Limits Amendment to the Constitution. Now, I’ve been preaching term limits for about thirty years (see my tagline), so it definitely got my attention. BUT...this mailing is he first I’ve heard about the proposal. Have any other FReepers seen it reported?
Term limits sound good, and if people were honest, it’s a good idea.
But then every politician would have a built-in lame-duck period. He’d know that it wouldn’t matter if he supported his constituents and potential voters any more. He easily could be bought and paid for during his last term and it wouldn’t matter.