Congressional Term Limits

[SentinelMind]

US Senator DeMint proposes a bill to create term limits for House and Senate.

“If we’re ever going to permanently change Washington, we must change the process that encourages career politicians to amass personal power instead of making the hard decisions for the nation,” said Senator DeMint. “We need true citizen legislators who spend their time defending the constitution, not currying favor with lobbyists. We need new leaders continually coming to Congress to ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely, not wasted on Washington special interests. We must end the era of permanent politicians that has led us to a $14 trillion debt and a pending fiscal crisis”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/04/15/term-limits-for-congress/#ixzz1JdXmASMe


What do you think?

 

[chaseter]

I agree. I think there should be term limits. Being a politician was never meant to be a career and some of these fat cats have made it just that. They don't do what is for the greater good, they do what gets them re-elected.

I have always thought 2 terms as a senator or congressman just like with the President would work well but go ahead and up the congress term limits to 4 years and also take down the Senate term limits to 4 years. So everyone can have 8 years as a politician. That is it. That will also make election cycles way, way easier and also save money for the tax payer.

 

[Marx]

I believe we've had a similar discussion on this before in one of the threads. (Can't remember which.) I'm torn on term limits. On one hand, they keep ideas new and fresh. On another hand, you could be limiting potential great leaders.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Lobbyists and big money will eat freshman congressmen for lunch.


If you don't want them in, vote 'em out.

 

[SentinelMind]

The senior congressmen will have already been swimming in a lobbyist's pocket for years. A freshman congressman will at least try to enact the will of the people...see the Tea Party for details.

 

[Matt]

I agree. I think there should be term limits. Being a politician was never meant to be a career and some of these fat cats have made it just that. They don't do what is for the greater good, they do what gets them re-elected.

I have always thought 2 terms as a senator or congressman just like with the President would work well but go ahead and up the congress term limits to 4 years and also take down the Senate term limits to 4 years. So everyone can have 8 years as a politician. That is it. That will also make election cycles way, way easier and also save money for the tax payer.

My thoughts exactly. Shorten Senate terms to four years and limit them to two terms, with a 4 term limit in the House.

That said, I think that DeMint is grandstanding to set himself up for a possible presidential run. This will never happen unless the state legislatures band together to change the Constitution as those in Washington would never willingly limit their own power.

 

[Kelly]

Yes to term limits...

 

[Marx]

Given all of the ridiculousness in congress throughout the debt debate (and the recent conversation in different threads), I thought I'd bump this.

 

[dodgers2213]

yes 100x

 

[8wid]

Get rid of term limits and have a national election every single November to have each state choose its representatives and shape the Congress differently. This happens every single year and the candidates are not allowed to campaign and debate for election for more than that month of November.

 

[Frontier]

Term limits are a start. We need them, at the very least in the house.

What we really need though is a ban prohibiting individuals elected to congress from ever holding a job either on wall street, with a fortune 500 company, an oil company, lobbying (which should just flat out be illegal) or a political appointed job, after they're out of office.

Otherwise, congress will remain a rung on the ladder too corporate success and financial security.

What we really need is Teddy Roosevelt reincarnated out their busting corporations. Corporations are just too big, too powerful, and are one of the fundamentals destroying the world. Whether on or off wall street. Too much money and power equals too much influence.