Term Limits for all Politicians
Corruption in government is certainly no secret to those who pay attention to the machinations of the political process. In fact, barely a day goes by when one politician or another is not being accused of some kind of improper activity. Today’s scandal, in the state of Pennsylvania, involves former Republican speaker of the House John Perzel and nine of his cohorts, who were indicted by the Grand Jury of “misrouting” more than $10.0 million in state funds to political causes. Mr. Perzel has served in the Pennsylvania House for fifteen terms. Like so many long-term elected officials, Representative Perzel was known as an aggressive politician who demanded absolute obedience and loyalty from his staffers. Colleagues describe him as arrogant, sarcastic, calculating and crude. Now, after fifteen terms of offices, Perzel can also be characterized as an unrepentant “crook”.
Unfortunately, Representative Perzel is not alone on the list of long-term politicians who have become arrogant in their successful drive for power and influence, and have eventually become thoroughly corrupted in the process. The temptations to abuse power usually increase as a politician’s time in power increases. Although the tendency to be corrupt emanates from the moral character of each individual elected official, the length of time in office seems to slowly but surely chip away at their moral character. After twenty or thirty years in office many (if not most) politicians have long since given up on advocating of the best interests of the people, and have made a career out of advocating for themselves.
Those of you who have become resigned to the fact that arm-twisting, favor-grubbing long term politicians will always be a bane on this country; fear not! Several Republican Senators are proposing a constitutional amendment that would limit the number a terms any U.S. Congressman may serve. Senator Jim DeMint and others want to limit the time served as a Representative to twelve years in total. Of course, the chances of getting the constitutional amendment approved by two thirds of the House of Representatives, and ratified by thirty-eight states is next to impossible. The concept, however, does seem to have merit. Just imagine a country where our elected representatives choose to serve a limited time in office in order to actually represent the will of the people. Corruption among elected officials who are only pursuing their own self-interest would not go away entirely, but it would become much more difficult to establish mutually profitable relationships with special interests. Term limits on all politicians, from the local level to the federal level, would be like a dream come true. Sadly, however, the dream will never become a reality; not as long as politicians can vote on their own fate.
—Rich
Writing from Chicago area – the land of the corrupt – I can only DREAM of a time when we get crime, corruption and special interests out of government and turn it back over to serving the voters, the will of the people. Take, for example, health care reform: At the very LEAST it seems critical to know which special interest each Congressman is beholden to, as they vote AGAINST some common sense reforms (and probably, in favor of big insurance companies.) They are on the “take” for millions from these corporations and no one seems to question it! Perhaps, besides term limits, public funding of shortened election seasons–and getting all this excessive money out of the election system–would help?
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I have been a big proponent of term limits, but I’m losing faith in the idea that they would really do much even if we ever did get the votes to make it happen. I am amazed at how many people are part of an enormous political network and switch from behind the scenes to elected office and even to a variety of elected offices. I think that the lifetime politicians know how to work the system and they’ll rotate into a variety of elected positions (with some interspersed behind the scenes roles) if term limits are enacted.
Of course I’d still like to see something pass, even if it only got rid of a few lifetime politicians it would help (plus it would send a big message.)
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Term limits and demanding politicians work towards being bi-partisan once they are elected instead of manipulating and preventing votes so their future opponents don’t ever look good to the voter.. It makes me sick because it is doubtful we can ever clean up our mess.
Dorothy form grammology
grammology.com
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I think that would fall under the ‘Perfect World’ prerequisite….would it not ?
Now if they could also state a ceiling limit in how much is sent on Campaigning…a perfect world it would be….somewhat !
I just love the word limit….but I doubt that the politicians even want to hear that word
They are true believers in freedom…not limits especially when it has to do with their spending and actions~
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being a politician was never meant to be a career position. i mean, being in the same position for a career. sure, i think you should be able to advance, but not hold the same position for years and years and years. i also think that it shouldn’t be so monetary. it shouldn’t cost millions of dollars to campaign. that just totally pisses me off. once again, it is usually whoever has the most money wins. disgusting…
have a great day…hugz!
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Will Oaks,
The amount of money poured into the “campaigns” of politicians by the Health Care special interests is truly mind-boggling, and the basic right of Americans to affordable health care has been lost in the shuffle. Money buys political power in America today, just like it does in Mexico, Afghanistan and Russia. The system is completely corrupt.
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Tina T.,
Good point! Look what happened in Russia. When Putin was stopped by term limits, he put Medvedev in power and made himself Prime Minister. Everyone knows he still pulls the strings.
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Dorothy S.,
Sadly, I must agree with you. I seems absolutely hopeless that term limits or any kind of meaningful campaign reform will happen any time soon. Is it any wonder that the voter apathy runs rampant.
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Dorothy L.,
A great example of this is the size of the legislature in the State of Pennsylvania. This state has a legislature way out of proportion with the population being represented. In fact, the legislature in Pennsylvania is bigger than that of the state of Texas, the most bloated in the country. Do you think that the politicians are going to propose a change to the state constitution that reduce the size of the legislature to more normal levels? Not in my lifetime!
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PJ,
You’re right. The fact that it takes millions of dollars to run a political campaign invites corrupting influences. It also ensures that people with lots of money (and very little talent) can afford to get themselves elected. It makes me sick to think of what it cost Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, to buy another term in office. There must be a better way!
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Want to end the strangle hold of lobbyists and special interests and also reduce corruption? That’s easy. Simply cut the money supply. No mullah, no troughs for the piggies to line up to. No bridges to nowhere. No earmarks. No use of public funds as political patronage for politicians to wield. There’s a reason why lobby groups of all stripes have offices not far from the Capitol building–that’s where the money is and where power resides.
Sadly, we have too many people in this country that have this mystical and romantic political dream that if the right guy/gal gets voted into office, they will ride on a white horse over the hill to save us from ourselves. Under the current system, it’s not going to happen.
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Funny, we already have it… it’s called the ballot box.
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VH,
I agree! The current system in America is corrupted by the need to raise millions of dollars to run a viable campaign. The lobbyists know this, of course, and take full advantage of a system that puts their specific interests above the interests of the public. The only way to mitigate the power of the special interests is to put term limits on all politicians.
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Harrison,
It seems to me that the ballot box doesn’t always work too well in weeding out corruption. Congressman Jefferson from Louisiana is a prime example. He was totally and blatantly corrupt yet got re-elected umpteen times before being thrown in jail for thirteen years. It’s hard to deny that money buys influence, and that the electorate can be fed a litany of mis-truths that determine the outcome of elections. Just look at the millions of dollars being spend by the health care lobbies to stop the President’s reform package.
Why do you think Presidents and Governors are subject to term limits? Whatever that reason is, apply it to elected officials at every level of government.
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Basically you’re saying that people cannot be trusted to vote out the “right” person so we need to have a law to do their duties for them. No thanks.
And if you think that forcing elected officials out after one or two terms will somehow prevent lobbying then I think you are very wrong. If that were true then why does lobbying still go on with presidents and governors who, as you say, are limited in the number of terms they may hold?
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Harrison,
I can’t quite figure out where I’m losing you on this? My basic premise is that multiple terms in office, stretching out over dozens of years, very often leads to corruption in politicians. If you disagree with this basic premise then there’s no use reading on.
Since corruption among our elected officials is bad for the public interest, one way to cut down on corruption would be to impose term limits. I am not suggesting that term limits would totally end corruption, merely that it would help to control the problem. You know as well as I do that politicians who have been in office for extended periods of time tend to become more and more powerful, and become more and more beholden to the special interests.
Fear not, Harrison, and don’t get your ultra-conservative nose out of joint; I’m not trying to suggest that the “people” of this great land cannot be trusted; afterall, they did re-elect Marion Berry, John Murtha and Congressman Jefferson. Let’s have a referendum and see what the people really want?
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If voters paid better attention to what was going on they might vote these people out of office. There is already a system in place to handle this issue… voting for a different candidate.
I know what you’re saying but it’s like taking cold medicine… it only removes the symptoms not the problem.
I’m not “ultra-conservative” by any stretch of the imagination I’m simply anti-new laws when we already have perfectly good ones in place: the ballot box.
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We have the same problem in Britain and as your are probably aware it has been in the press alot lately.
The only real solution is to outlaw lobbyists of all persuasion since none of them are promoting something sanctioned by the electorate.
A very simple example in the UK was when it was suggested by the government that British based oil majors, BP and Shell, should pay an excess profits tax.
The then Chief Executive of BP, Lord Brown, visited Tony Blair at Number 10 and simply told him that if this was instituted, BP would move it’s Corporate HQ to New York.
Surprise surprise, Blair backed down.
Just a simple example of who actually runs things!
The same no doubt applies in the US.
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Our government is ill and needs a complete transfusion. In the next primary vote for another candidate, not the incumbent. And if the incumbent is nominated, vote for the opposite party or vote for an independent. Two terms in any elected office is too much. One term. One term only.
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The people can force a one term limit on all politicians. Simply vote against the incumbent in all elections. This would not only force a one term limit but would rid us of professional politicians completely. No one would choose politics as a career if they would be out of work in every other election.
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