Would you support term limits for Congress?? (1 Viewer)

[WI Crippler]

I have often wondered if it would slow corruption, and speed up processes in Washington D.C.(on both sides), if term limits, much like the President has, were in force for Senators and Representatives. Even supreme court judges for that matter. I understand they (congress) are elected, but there is a reason a President can only serve two terms no matter his popularity, why should congress be any different. Vote and discuss.

 

[Deegan]

I sure would, this would keep us stupid Americans from voting for the same tired old men, year after year, just because we know their name or their face!:doh

 

[Gordon Shumway]

absolutely
definitely
without a doubt
without question
you bet your sweet _ _ _

 

[Calm2Chaos]

Being a politician in one office should never become a lifelong career. It makes you lazy, and it makes you ineffective. A term limit would insure a quicker moving congress IMO

 

[reaganburch]

Good theory, I would love to see it happen.... question, though... how could we bring it about? Would Congress vote on it or could we as some type of national referendum?

Arkansas passed a term limits bill that affected our national Representatives and Senators and it was struck down as unconstitutional, but we do have state office term limits...

 

[WI Crippler]

Good theory, I would love to see it happen.... question, though... how could we bring it about? Would Congress vote on it or could we as some type of national referendum?

Thats the problem with this solution.... do we really think our congressional leaders would vote themselves out of power??
It seems initially alot of people would support the measure, but how would we get it passed?? I think it would stand a better chance to pass as a national referendum, but how do we get it in the voting booths??

 

[Saboteur]

I have often wondered if it would slow corruption, and speed up processes in Washington D.C.(on both sides), if term limits, much like the President has, were in force for Senators and Representatives. Even supreme court judges for that matter. I understand they (congress) are elected, but there is a reason a President can only serve two terms no matter his popularity, why should congress be any different. Vote and discuss.

What's that new Robin Williams movie where his character says "Politicians are like diapers, they should be changed often and for the same reason"?

Anyway, yes I would like to see term limits, a reduction in representatives down to 2 for house and 2 for senate (it may already be 2 for senate) and one has to be a Democrat or Independant and the other a Republican that means they campaign against other members of their party not the other party.

 

[Navy Pride]

We actually voted on a referendum on term limits here in Washington State and we approved it but the liberal Washington Supreme Court threw it out saying it was unconstitutional.....

 

[jfuh]

I sure would, this would keep us stupid Americans from voting for the same tired old men, year after year, just because we know their name or their face!:doh

We disagree on many things, fortunately this we are in complete agreement on.

 

[RightOfCenter]

Hell yes I would! As of know politicians are voting to serve their own interests rather then those of their constituency. Perhaps if they only served 2 terms instead of being elected over and over again thanks to contributions from big businesses they would vote the way the people who elected them desire.

 

[RightOfCenter]

We actually voted on a referendum on term limits here in Washington State and we approved it but the liberal Washington Supreme Court threw it out saying it was unconstitutional.....

I don't really see how this is liberals fault, no states currently have term limits

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

I don't really see how this is liberals fault, no states currently have term limits

Pay no attention. It's just NavyPride placing his normal, predictable, tired partisan spin, on what had, up until him, been a non-partisan thread.

 

[Dezaad]

The last time we voted people into power who promised term limits, they failed to attempt pass it. They should have been voted out of office in the next election for failing to do so.

I think the single largest flaw in the US Constitution is that it did not set out a clearly defined mechanism for the people to take it upon themselves to directly change it.

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

I would not support term limits for Congress. I view members of Congress as having a job (hopefully they view it that way too) and the American people as the employers. If someone has a job and and they are corrupt or doing poor work, they get fired (voted out). If someone is doing good work, they don't get told that it's time to leave, anyway. If on the rare occassion, someone good is actually in office, I want them to stay.

Also, I believe that term limits often make the assumption that American voters will vote for names they recognize and are too stupid to vote, out of office, someone doing poorly.

 

[RightOfCenter]

Also, I believe that term limits often make the assumption that American voters will vote for names they recognize and are too stupid to vote, out of office, someone doing poorly.

You disagree with this assumption? I certainly don't...

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

You disagree with this assumption? I certainly don't...

Perhaps it is just an idealistic hope on my part. :roll:

 

[Saboteur]

We actually voted on a referendum on term limits here in Washington State and we approved it but the liberal Washington Supreme Court threw it out saying it was unconstitutional.....

Ah yes those liberals, Always adhearing to the traditional tenents of the constitution.

 

[WI Crippler]

Does anyone have the ability to find out the ruling of a court, why they decided that term limits for Congress were unconstitutional? I interested in the arguement that the President cannot hold office for as long as the people vote for him(unconstitutional), but congressional leaders can(constitutional??).
It doesn't matter so much that its deemed unconstitutional by courts now, but rather that we have the ability to make amendments to fix a problem, but we cannot fix this one even if every swinging asshole in america voted for it, a judge could shoot it down.
There needs to be a 75% or 2/3rds civilian vote to override a judges decision on an issue like this, that way the people would have the power to pass an amendment. The way things are now, big businesses on both sides of the issues own our politicians, and therefore compromise their vote. I am from Wisconsin and we got that jack *** Russ Feingold, I don't know one person that would vote for the guy, but he gets reelected every year somehow.

 

[Kandahar]

As for politicians not voting to limit their own terms, maybe it could be grandfathered in. That is, politicians already in office can continue to serve as long as they want, but the next guy can only serve 1 or 2 terms.

That might make it more likely to pass.

 

[Befuddled_Stoner]

I think the single largest flaw in the US Constitution is that it did not set out a clearly defined mechanism for the people to take it upon themselves to directly change it.

Well, if I remember correctly, Jefferson had something to say about this…

I interested in the arguement that the President cannot hold office for as long as the people vote for him(unconstitutional), but congressional leaders can(constitutional??).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

 

[WI Crippler]

Well, if I remember correctly, Jefferson had something to say about this…




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Ok, I read it and have no problem with this, but what my questio is, is why can we not have an amendment to the constitution to impose similar term limits on the other branches of government. Maybe not exactly two 4 year terms, but term limits all the same.

 

[tryreading]

I would not support term limits for Congress. I view members of Congress as having a job (hopefully they view it that way too) and the American people as the employers. If someone has a job and and they are corrupt or doing poor work, they get fired (voted out). If someone is doing good work, they don't get told that it's time to leave, anyway. If on the rare occassion, someone good is actually in office, I want them to stay.

Also, I believe that term limits often make the assumption that American voters will vote for names they recognize and are too stupid to vote, out of office, someone doing poorly.

You are right. Term limits would be a mistake. They would take away a right that we now have to keep our Congressional leaders in as long as we want. I don't know why people would so easily abandon a right.

Anyway, we already have all the term limits we need. Its called the 'vote.'

And if some districts don't vote out their bad leaders, shame on them. But I enjoy my rights, and want to keep all of them.

 

[DeeJayH]

You are right. Term limits would be a mistake. They would take away a right that we now have to keep our Congressional leaders in as long as we want. I don't know why people would so easily abandon a right.

Anyway, we already have all the term limits we need. Its called the 'vote.'

And if some districts don't vote out their bad leaders, shame on them. But I enjoy my rights, and want to keep all of them.

ditto
while i can not think of any current examples, but if i really like a guy, or he gets the job done, i dont want him out at the expiration of his term limit

see following post

 

[DeeJayH]

I don't really see how this is liberals fault, no states currently have term limits

Jeb Bush is OUT as Florida's Governor
thanks to....................................................Term Limits
and i would take him over either of his potential replacements in a heartbeat

you might want to revise your statement

 

[t125eagle]

why should there be term limits for congressmen or congresswomen? if the voters want them to still serve in Congress, then they get voted in. if they do not, then they lose the election.