Exactly! Before I really thought about it, I used to be a proponent of term limits too, but even though there are many lifers in congress who blatently abuse their position, the root of the problem is not term limits. I agree that the bureaucrats, all the massive bureaucracies, and many, if not most, of the relationships congresscritters have with them, are indeed a much larger problem. Our nation’s founders couldn’t possibly imagine how massive, powerful, and expensive some of these bureaucracies have become. It truly is mind boggling!
So how do propose to "trim the hedges" unless you first remove their powerful guardians?
Thank you. The problem is like a “root” in the system.... largely unseen but pervasive. Taking away the power from the bureaucracy would mean Congress voting on EVERY proposed rule, regulation, or regimen that an executive branch employee wants to impose on the citizenry. Accountability would then truly be with the elected officials.
FDA wants to ban the sale of e-cigarettes? Let Congress vote.
IRS wants to raise the standard for a “tax exempt” status? A decision for Congress.
All this ranting about bureaucrats is ridiculous! I understand the sentiment. However the bureaucracy didn’t spring into existence “ex nihilo”! Congress - the legislature created them because we “the public” stampeded them into solving “something” that 9 times out of 10 is a non-problem. For example roughly in the mid-1970s Congress pushed a lot “legal interpretation & rule implementing” down to the federal agencies because they couldn’t be bothered with writing clarity (or even accuracy!) into legislation. It’s particularly true in environmental legislation. Of course this creates a big “pay day” for lawyers. (Aren’t almost all “congresscritters” & state legislators lawyers? Helping their legal friends & pals as well as themselves in the future!) All the bureaucrats do is implement the legally “required” stupidity. There are other examples on other issues but to cover them over and above this summarized example would require me to write a “War and Peace” FR commentary.
You could zero out the federal payroll and we still go over the financial cliff due exponentially exploding entitlements. Compared to that the federal bureaucracy is a non-problem.