Would Term Limits Help?

[Tully365]

I've never been totally convinced one way or the other, but lately the debate has come up at work-- would term limits help to slow down the cozy relationships between congress and corporate lobbyists and lead to more independent decision making by our elected officials, or would letting go of experienced successful congressional members ultimately do more harm than good?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

It's a tough call. I think it would help, but then you could also argue that they'd be even greedier in their limited time there. I'd be all for trying something different though, the current system is broken.

[ElNono]

More oversight and accountability is what's needed. Also we need to completely do away or severely limit the lobbying system. It's just that politicos won't do it because that's the hand that feeds them. So we really need some dude with balls that's serious about making a dent there.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

More oversight and accountability is what's needed. Also we need to completely do away or severely limit the lobbying system. It's just that politicos won't do it because that's the hand that feeds them. So we really need some dude with balls that's serious about making a dent there.

There also needs to be a law that neither you nor any family can go work for a company if you're in government after you're out. So no more kickbacks of a high paying job when someone in the Cabinet or anywhere in the federal government helps a company get a big contract.

[anakha]

Over here, our Constitution places term limits on Congress and the Presidency, as a result of the Ferdinand Marcos martial law insanity 20 years ago.

What it basically has resulted in is almost-yearly moves to amend the Constitution with the implicit purpose of removing those term limits, and wasted taxpayers' money while Congress and the President try to stay in power as long as they can.

[Wild Cobra]

I would like to see that aspect of our constitution resort to what the Articles of Confederation ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_confederation) had.


No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor more than seven members; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years; nor shall any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the United States, for which he, or another for his benefit, receives any salary, fees or emolument of any kind.

I would like to see something similar applied to the presidency and congress rather than term limits. I would also like it added that you cannot campaign for office, while congress is in session. Also that you don't get paid for day not attended. So many other things to consider, but I find these things simple.

[Extra Stout]

While this is totally incompatible with my Christian ethics, I could point out that when this became a problem 100 years ago, members of the working classes just started assassinating rich people. They even had terrorists blowing up wagon bombs on Wall Street. The bankers and crony capitalists aren't exactly Marines in terms of valor, so when their physical well-being is threatened, they cave pretty quickly to calls for reform.