Shoud Term Limits for State and US Congressmen and Senators be allowed on State and National Ballet for US to vote on?

2015-11-23T16:04:26-05:00

Was holding political office meant to be a lifetime career? Or does a life in office open the door to political corruption? Today, members of the US Congress and Senate have little fear of losing their job. Of course they can be voted out, but with the use of gerrymandering coupled with no term limits these Politicians can and do serve for decades. With each passing year in office we witness these officials amass political power and influence. And with their growing power, money and influence we have seen their motivation and loyalty turn from the people to their Party's interests, more power and the sources of money that helps them hold onto their little kingdom.

The attached link shows the top 25 longest serving Senators ranging from no less than 35 years to over 50 years in office. Could Term Limits make our politicians more accountable and responsible to their Constituents and our Country knowing they will soon return to live with the very people they were governing?

If Term Limits are good ideas, how do we get it enacted? If it need to be voted on, how do we get it on the ballet so we can vote it into practice? Can getting Term Limits in place be done?

http://www.senate.gov/senators/Biographical/longest_serving.htm

U.S. Senate: Longest Serving Senators

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Nov 23 at 2015 4:13 PM

2015-11-23T16:13:19-05:00

I think Congress should have to live within the laws they create. When they carve out exemptions for themselves, it is clearly a corrupt system. As far as term limits go, I would like to see those but at the same time, we could have those if people were educated and voted. What is sad is the small percentage of people that vote in our elections and then wonder why we are in the mess we are in. Unless we as voters hold them accountable, they will get away with this.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 23 at 2015 4:21 PM

2015-11-23T16:21:55-05:00

There absolutely should be term limits. However it must be done via Constitutional Amendment. Unfortunately, in 1994 the SCOTUS determined that State Level Legislature cannot impose Term Limits on Congressmen.

The below case affected 23 states which already had term limits in effect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Term_Limits,_Inc._v._Thornton

U.S. Term Limits - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

U.S. Term Limits (USTL) is a non-profit organization that lobbies for term limits for elected officials at every level of government in the United States. Among other activities, USTL supports ballot initiatives in numerous states. The organization was established in 1992, and is one of several led by New York libertarian Howard Rich. One of the founding board members of the organization was Eric O'Keefe, author of the book Who Rules...

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Nov 23 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-11-23T16:27:58-05:00

Im not too concerned with what benefits they receive while in office, but once out of office, it all needs to stop. I advocate for 2 non-consecutive terms for life.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Nov 23 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-11-23T16:50:49-05:00

I would take it one step further.. I propose we limit terms to ONE TERM IN A ROW. No government pension, no extended health insurance, no seniority. If you're in an office, you can't run for that same office. Also, if you're in office and you want to run for a different office, you first have to resign your current office... The People shouldn't be paying politicians to run for office.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 5:02 PM

2015-11-23T17:02:16-05:00

It wouldn't matter if it were on the ballot. To make this change would require a Constitutional Amendment. A tremendous idea, that nobody seems interested in backing.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 23 at 2015 5:29 PM

2015-11-23T17:29:27-05:00

There are two questions here: Term Limits and Popular Referendum. I'm for one and against the other. Once upon a time my positions were exactly reversed. I always felt that term limits were an insult on our intelligence. Surely we could vote out the bums when they failed. It now appears obvious that We the People simply can't. I used to think that it would be unfair to force out a good legislator simply to make room for another possibly less competent. That now appears to be a small price to pay for cleaning up Congress. As for referendums, I live in a state, California, that has them. I've lived in others that didn't. When I lived in those places where We the People couldn't introduce legislation, I felt deprived. Now that I've lived in a place where almost as many laws come from referendums as from the state legislature, I wish they'd stop. We get more bad laws this way. Every time I opened a ballot laden with referendums I was painfully aware of how unprepared I was to vote on them. What did I know? Each was layered with unforeseeable consequences. This is why we pay legislators and provide them with staffs, isn't it? So they can deliberate on these matters, listen to expert counsel, and decide wisely. Generally, it seems, most referendums are attempts to circumvent a legislature that has already considered the matter and found it lacking. But, of course, if you refer back to my first issue, I don't have all that much faith in them. Damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 23 at 2015 5:50 PM

2015-11-23T17:50:29-05:00

A few thoughts:
- Educated and informed voters should be the primary means of imposing term limits.
- Since the above is not happening, term limits can/should be implemented via Constitutional amendment. Congressman limited to 12 years (6 terms) and Senators limited to 12 years (2 terms).
- If the above is implemented, however, the second order impact is that the government bureaucracy would become stronger. That would have to be something we as a nation dealt with 20 years after passing the Constitutional amendment or immediately by reducing the size of the federal government. Sequential is acceptable but simultaneous would be preferred.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Nov 23 at 2015 6:36 PM

2015-11-23T18:36:32-05:00

@ knox

Response by MCPO Katrina Hutcherson made Nov 24 at 2015 2:57 AM

2015-11-24T02:57:18-05:00

It's high time we voted for a constitutional amendment for congressional term limits along with a provision that they can pass no law that exempts them. I don't believe the framers of the constitution meant for there to be a political class. The professional politicians are doing us a disservice all the while voting themselves raises, perks and amassing massive war chests that make it almost impossible to vote them out. For those willing to serve we need to pay them well enough for them to take time away from their own careers and put in place protections like USSERA laws (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act is a federal law, passed in 1994), that protects military service members and veterans from employment discrimination on the basis of their service, and allows them to regain their civilian jobs following a period of uniformed service. As an added incentive maybe they could be entitled to contributions to their retirement in their absence as an incentive. Other than that, they should be civil servants and subject to civil service benefits. It might be nice if we could also do away with party affiliations and just have those running for office run on the merits of their platform only....but that's just a pipe dream...

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 7:40 AM

2015-11-24T07:40:22-05:00

NO TERM LIMIT !!!! cry out loud .... they already have term limit! election day! Term limit can't fix "stupid" voters!!! this suggestion has absolutely the opposite effect that you think it will achieve!

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Nov 24 at 2015 11:55 AM

2015-11-24T11:55:38-05:00

I'd like to see term limits, i dont feel it should be a career. I dont think it was suppose to ever be a career.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Nov 24 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-11-24T13:00:35-05:00

There should be Term Limits, same health care as US and NO "Golden Parachute" retirement package.

Also no immunity from prosecution if they're found to have committed criminal acts.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 2:42 PM

2015-11-24T14:42:16-05:00

https://www.randpaul.com/issue/term-limits
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/rand-paul-amendment-obamacare-laws/2013/10/22/id/532312/

Every time it even comes near the floor - it gets smashed...but there are Politicians out there willing to vote for it, just not enough to have it passed. After all, a lot of the men and women in Congress are and have been making a career in politics. Lastly, like a few other RPers have alluded to, voters keep voting for them...which the saying "stupid as stupid does" comes to mind.

Rand Paul Supports Term Limits and Government Reform

We have all seen the consequence of long-term incumbencies. Career politicians seem to care more about their career than what is best for their country. We have seen politicians grow more and more out-of-touch with each successive term.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 7:49 PM

2015-11-24T19:49:15-05:00

I am in complete agreement with the establishment of term limits for our elected officials. Neither Article I or II initially provided a term of service. It was not until the 20th century that the term limit Amendment was voted and approved for the Presidency. I would begin with researching how the proposal for the 22 Amendment (March 1, 1951) was developed and pursued and then use it as a framework. Because of the lack of legislative support, I would then begin a grassroots messaging movement targeting US Citizens support to push their state legislators to develop and put it to a vote with a continued push for the states to bring forth an application for proposal under Article V.

Response by Sgt Harry Hrycenko made Nov 24 at 2015 9:14 PM

2015-11-24T21:14:02-05:00

Yes

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 7:56 AM

2015-11-26T07:56:57-05:00

A two consecutive term limit should be in place for all elected positions except President, which should stand at two total terms. If someone can be elected twice, be forced to sit a term, then be re-elected I would have less of an issue than having a 30 year politician.