And I'd like there to be an age limit, too. Mandatory retirement at 72 or 74 at the most.
Gets my vote!
Could backfire.
What about Senator Cruz?
Term limits would deal with the idiocy of having useless old bastards like Ted Kennedy, Robert Byrd and Thad Cochrane running the nation's affairs long after they've passed their expiration date. But the problem isn't just those jerks. It's a Federal bureaucracy that has turned into an entire self-perpetuating industry unto itself.
The biggest problem isn't an octogenarian in the U.S. Senate who can't even dress himself in the morning. The biggest problem is actually illustrated with a guy like Rick Santorum, who served two terms in the U.S. Senate, who was voted out of office even without any term limits ... and who probably hasn't worked a job in his life that didn't involve: (1) working at the expense of taxpayers, or (2) working for a lobbying firm or a "think tank" whose sole purpose is to soak taxpayers for one pet issue or another.
Implementing term limits would do nothing more than increase the speed of the revolving door for people like this. They'll spend less time in government, but they'll simply do more favors in that time before they walk out the door and land in a thoroughly unproductive, but personally lucrative, job doing favors for their benefactors.
Term limits wouldn’t be needed if we did away with Washington DC. It should be a meeting place once or twice a year (State of the Union address and one or two emergency sessions). The rest of the time senators and congressmen should work from home. They would then have to face their constituents daily and have to live under the laws they pass. Also would make the lobbyist jobs harder and more costly.
Term limits are in the hands of voters.
We proved that when we Cantorized our weasel, the sitting Majority leader.
The bigger the government the more money and power to corrupt the players. If the voters are serious about corruption, they should demand a smaller government.
Since we actually elect officials every 2, 4 or 6 years, we already have term limits.
The broader question to ask is how those elected into office use their power to ‘gin’ the system and get reelected.
I submit several ways to mitigate this:
1. A Constitutional Amendment that says no law can be passed or regulations enacted that gives exemption to anyone in Government. (Like Obamacare)
2. The elimination of money laundering as practiced between unions and Democrats, or like between pharmaceuticals and GOP. (Pass a law to benefit me and I will donate to your party).
3. Zero funding of any Green Energy Schemes. (Only awards fatcat backers).
4. No Government spending is to occur without a prior-approved budget for that fiscal year. (Continuing resolutions just keep congressmen from hard choices needed)
5. No elected or appointed official is to receive a pension that is above the average of the private sector for similar work and number of years of service.(No more career politicians, need an incentive to return to private work like the Founders intended)
There are others, but note the preponderance of money in these. Always, always follow the money.
Term limits can be passed by Congress IF they exclude the legislation from judicial review. It will be subject to change by a future Congress, but a serious Congress could impose it immediately upon themselves.
Just a suggestion: there are some levels of the bureaucracy that should be term limited, especially the senior executive service (SES). They are equivalent to flag rank in the military, and serve just below cabinet level. But...they can stay forever.
I’m all for term limits also including the SC. But look who makes the laws. They aren’t going to term limit themselves out of a lifetime cushy job. I’m also for taking away their pensions, and letting them fund their own, but that ain’t happenin’ either....
The single biggest hypocrisy against term limits would be the actions to stop it by the very same people it would be throwing out and the same people sworn to uphold the constitution that don’t do it in office.
Term limits don’t work, at least here in MI at the state level.
For example, state legislators get together and put something onerous in a bill then pass it knowing that they will gone in a year.
Same with an excess budget, then only to be term-limited out after 6 years and they have no accountability for their actions.
Then someone else takes their place who in not responsible for the cronyism/lobbyist payouts etc. that just took place and this leads to bad things happening.
Term limits work in theory but don’t work in practice.
Vote them out instead - and if they broke any law while holding office, prosecute them instead of a political party running their mouths.
Term Limits;
One Term in Office,
TWO Terms in Jail!!
Just slow down on electing lawyers, that would help.
If term limits are enacted power will default to the staffers and bureaucrats who work for the elected officials unless something is done about that too.
If it backfires it will be because people come to Washington realizing “I only have eight years to stuff my pockets, so let’s start maximizing all efforts in that regard.”
What's sad is that there's 25% who don't believe it.
Term limits are NO MAGIC BULLIT. The corruption will just happen faster. We have presidential term limits, how is that working?
Your age limit would have kept RR out...........................
So tell me, what is the real problem and can it be solved.