BS: A call for term limits

Subject: BS: A call for term limits
From: Tiger
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 02:32 PM

Take off your Democrat/Republican hats for a while. Let's look at this logically.

Regardless of any intent of the 'Founders' I find the concept of 'lifetime politician' to be morally reprehensible. Sorry, but being Senator should not be a career. This is how power accumulates in Washington, and why most of our legislators are millionaires.

I propose the following:

Representative - 6 terms, 12 years
Senator - 2 terms, 12 years
President - 1 term, 6 years (can run again, but not for consecutive terms)
Supreme Court - 1 term, 18 years (President nominates one every two years)

Extra benefits (besides just the limitation) - the President is never distracted by running for re-election, and Supreme Court appointee finagling and 'strategic retirements' would be eliminated.

Just so we're sure no particular ox is being gored, the regulations could take effect beginning with the next-entering elected group. So, any of the old 'dinosaurs' would be grandfathered, and the clock could start anew.

An excellent treatise on the Supreme Court aspects of this issue can be found at:
Virginia Law Review article

What do you think?

Subject: RE: BS: A call for term limits
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 03:22 PM

Sounds good to me.

Subject: RE: BS: A call for term limits
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 05:15 PM

I think the Presidential elections are fine as they are. Senators at 2 six year terms looks good. the problem with The House is gerrymandering.

Supreme Court, maximum age, minimum age would work for me, say 50-70.

Subject: RE: BS: A call for term limits
From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 05:22 PM

We have, and always have had, term limits.

They're called ELECTIONS.

As for the Supreme Court, good bloody luck. The plutocrat's will never go for it.

Subject: RE: BS: A call for term limits
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 05:26 PM

Some careful adjustment of terms might well be useful... but in an institution like Congress, there is a certain value in the
'institutional memory' which longer serving members have. Various functions, committees and activities really need Senators & Representatives with experience and knowledge that is hard to acquire quickly.

Term limits sounds fine in concept... until you are required to replace a member well-respected and honest and competent.

I'd be willing to support some tweaking of the system, such as requiring a larger % of votes in the primary past a certain number of terms. (never heard this suggested..just thinking out loud))

As for presidential terms, age is a significant concern, and if you get a good one, waiting 6 years to run again might ruin the chance to keep them.

My basic instinct is to do a better job of finding decent candidates... such as changing the primary process and financing to make it easier for **money** to be less of a factor

Subject: RE: BS: A call for term limits
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 13 - 06:23 PM

I must say I agree with Bill D about needing continuity of personnel.

In Alaska the Lieutenant Governor is responsible for the elections director. The director is usually (always?) of the same political party as the Lieut but the staff serving the office remain.

One election year the incoming administration made a clean sweep- director, staff and all: OUT.

It took them more than a year to figure out what they were doing.