I keep hearing how people despise big government, cronyism, and sell-out lobbyists and politicians who do not have any real world knowledge or experience. The powers of incumbency in this country are so great that in 2008, 94% of incumbents were re-elected to the House and 83% to the Senate. 
How can this be good when most of the electoral vote do understand and are not privy to the many backroom deals taking place being behind the scenes?
Our founding fathers believed it was an honor and a privilege to serve the American People. Once they served–and for measly compensation in most cases—they returned to their farms, trades or careers. Now it is increasingly fashionable to be a career politician with a health plan that is superior to any available to the American public, a Pension superior to any available to the American public and numerous other perks lavished by special interest and corporate lobbyists.
The only way to eliminate many of the conflicts of interest associated with lifelong politicians is to establish term limits. I suggest the following:
President – Three 4-year terms for a maximum of 12 years
Senator – Two 6-year terms for a maximum of 12 years
House of Representatives – Three 4-year terms for a maximum of 12 years
Ancient history
Term limits have a long history. Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, two early civilizations which had elected offices, both imposed limits on certain positions. In ancient Athenian democracy, no citizen could serve on the council of 500, or boule, for two consecutive annual terms, nor for more than two terms in his lifetime, nor be head of the boule more than once. In the Roman Republic, a law was passed imposing a limit of a single term on the office of censor. The annual magistrates—tribune of the plebs, aedile, quaestor, praetor, and consul—were forbidden reelection until a number of years had passed.
List of Arguments in Favor of Term Limits
Term limits:
1. Are overwhelmingly preferred by voters.. (It’s innate commonsense!)
2. Downgrade seniority and favor meritocracy.
3. Increase competition and encourage new challengers.
4. Build a ‘citizen’ Congress, driving out career politicians.
5. Break the ties to special interest groups.
6. Improve the tendency to vote on principle.
7. Introduce fresh thinking, new ideas, and eliminate ‘old bulls’.
8. Reduce the power of staff, bureaucracy, and lobbies.
9. Will create a natural reduction in wasteful federal spending.
10. Encourage lower taxes, smaller government, and greater voter participation in elections.
12. Gets reelection rates back to near 50%, versus the current 99%. (Founders called it “rotation in office”)
List of Arguments in Opposition to Term Limits
Term limits:
- Would terminate the good politicians along with the bad (although once a politician is done with the house he or she can run for the Senate and then the Presidency).
- Reduce the range of voter choice (but that assumes lack of talent in the wings).
- Result in loss of knowledge and experience.
- Should be considered after tackling some of the systemic issues in Washington, including campaign fundraising and lobbyist influence.
- Increase the power of staff, lobbies, and bureaucracy if there is not corresponding reform dealing with lobbyists and their financial support. (Staff can be rotated when a new politician is elected.)
Clearly, there are more reasons in favor of term limits than reasons against term limits. That tells us a lot right there!
The remaining question is simple…who does this country really belong to…Congress?… or us—the American public?
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