Okay, stop. I'm not suggesting that the bureaucrats who perform the actual nuts-and-bolts work of government be fired along with some legislator or executive; I'm saying that elected officials, in elected offices, be citizens and not some ruling elite.
We've had Presidential term limits since the FDR debacle, and they've served us well. They kept the Reagan Cabinet from propping up that very popular president for a term he could not possibly have served (if you recall his Alzheimer's time-line, which actually started in 1988). And you know that Karl Rove would never give up on his figurehead.
Congressional term limits have been proposed for ten years' worth of House and 20 years' worth of Senate (which would amount to five and three terms, respectively, in typical practice). Speaking solely for myself, I have yet to hold a job for ten years, and yet I'm fairly competent.
The real question is neither of corruption nor incompetence, as the electorate seems to be quite accepting of both. The question is whether a legislator will focus on legislation or reelection when they know they don't have a life-time sinecure. Judging by the presidents from Eisenhower onward, and by state legislators and governors who are already subject to term limits, the results are apparently quite supportive of limits.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 09:48 pm (UTC)We've had Presidential term limits since the FDR debacle, and they've served us well. They kept the Reagan Cabinet from propping up that very popular president for a term he could not possibly have served (if you recall his Alzheimer's time-line, which actually started in 1988). And you know that Karl Rove would never give up on his figurehead.
Congressional term limits have been proposed for ten years' worth of House and 20 years' worth of Senate (which would amount to five and three terms, respectively, in typical practice). Speaking solely for myself, I have yet to hold a job for ten years, and yet I'm fairly competent.
The real question is neither of corruption nor incompetence, as the electorate seems to be quite accepting of both. The question is whether a legislator will focus on legislation or reelection when they know they don't have a life-time sinecure. Judging by the presidents from Eisenhower onward, and by state legislators and governors who are already subject to term limits, the results are apparently quite supportive of limits.