Term Limits - THE Answer to Todays Political Stalemate

Term Limits is an idea whose time has come. The country would be better served by its' elected officials if they officals were limited to one term in office at a time. The history of the country has politics as a part time occupation by real people working in the real world. The founding fathers warned time and time again against the creeping of power to the entrenched political class. Goerge Mason and James Madison both wrote as warnings that we have failed to heed as todays elected officials live as Roman Princes where the world is there for their pleasure. Junkets, insurance, banking, loans, all special circumstances for elected officails different then what you or I would recieve as a citizen. There should be no difference. Travel by coach in crowded airports and deal with security check points and delays just like the rest of us so then maybe something can be done about it.

Does anyone think that Ted Kennedy (taking his best at heart) serving for 48 years is better for the citizens of Massachuettes he served then if eight different people with eight different sets of experiences and eight different sets of proposals as answers to our problems had served as Senator. Rep John Murtha served 18 terms in the house. Did all the pork he secured for his district really make it worth while? Is it even better for his own district who might have gained federal largeness due to his oversized influence in the defense indusrty at what cost to their neighbors who were shorted what they gained? Is the country better off then if none of the pork was ever spent? 18 different people with 18 different suggestions and ideas on solving the countries problems never to be heard from due to the power of the incumbent. Not to belittle his accomplishments, which are great and varied, but is he not the problem which we would want term limits to avoid for us. Who remebers Abscam? Murtha was an unidicted coconspirator and still managed to get reelected. He should of served and moved on but the attraction of easy money and perks grows on you like a cancer. Remember Power corrupts all (any) of us so it is understandable to not want to relinquish the grip, but come on, it has become obscene.
Ethics probes, shady political action committees, Special Investigators, all costing millions of dollars a year could all be eliminated with term limits. One term and off you go. Good or Bad.

Example of Virginia - Virginia is one of the best governed states in the country and we have term limits on our Governor. The Governor may not serve consectutive terms. Because of this Virginia has had a steady stream of "Great" Governors coming from both national political parties. The person is elected, deals with the hand they have been dealt, and does their best for the state and moves on. No reelection worries getting in the way of the duties of their elected office. Wilder, Allen, Warner, Kaine, McDougal all did very well. Even if they did not do wonderful things they are gone before doing too much damage, and on to the next one. How can we expect a Congressman who is constantly running a relection campaign to really focus on the task of governing the country? Let alone deciding to do what is best for the country not his own self interest. In Virginia there is always talk about repealing the limits on the governor job but they never go anywhere in the committees. So even where we see success with term limits there are people who are opposed, usually the ones who are limited by the limits.

Addressing the issue of lobbyists gaining undue influence since all elected officials are "rookies". The lobbyists power would actually diminish with term limits. Think about it, if you were elected to an office and you are not worried about getting reelected, would you be influenced by outside opinions or would you do what you set out to do and get it done and go back to your life at home. There would be no donations year after year adding up to hundreds of thoudands of dollars which any sane person would admit will influence your thinking. It would be pretty awesome that every two years the entir ehouse turned over. Choas in a good way. Imagine the election of the Speaker of the House every two years and having a new person each time. Possibly might want to consider a three term limit for the House equalling the six years a Senator would serve in his one term.

Which person is more beholden to special interests and lobbyists? Compare the mindset of a new congressman who just got elected and is on a mission, which is why he ran in the first place, not worried about winning reelection or the congressman who just got elected and wants to stay in office and that becomes his primary concern, which is undertandable and not a bad thing. It just produces different results. But it is not good for the function of the position and the good of the country.