Like many I'm disgusted with the puerile, self-serving behaviour of elected officials in Congress and the Senate. I'm disgusted with them openly admitting not to having read proposed legislation but being "convinced" its wrong; voting yes or no on party lines; callously disregarding what might be good for the majority of Americans to curry favor with a wealthy, influential few; cavalierly dismissing innovation and change because it will hurt their personal pocket book, and above all, I'm disgusted with the acceptance that Congress and the Senate are sinecures for many.
Look at the reality of not having term limits. It means that every day served is a bid for re-election. For as long as we continue to allow unlimited terms of office in in the Senate and Congress we do not have a true democracy. When the Constituion was written , life expectancy amongst white males (and let's face it - despite progress, those are the majority to inhabit our halls of government) was significantly less than today. Founding Fathers did not envision someone serving 60 years in Congress.
I have a proposal - a grass roots movement to limit the amount of time someone can yank strings and pull this country along a in a dance of personal gain and public division. The argument that we need continuity is easily demolished. It's the staff who read the bills; know the ins and outs, get the work done. Too many of our members of Congress and the Senate see it as a job for life with huge financial gain and perks that you or I, the Americans who pay their salary and pensions, would die for. And do die for in that I know not one person who wouldn't leap at the opportunity for the same health care insurance that these people have.
With term limits we would have people genuinely interested in moving America forward rather than seeking re-election. Trouble is, the very people who could start this movement for reform are the ones cushily installed and they are not about to rock their own boat. We have to do it. Worth a thought isn't it as we head into another cycle of elections and the preening, posturing, belligerence and out right lying has already begun.
Purpose vs Intention & Creativity
-
Purpose implies product. Product implies a plan and the expectation of
succeeding at that plan. But that mindset can often be antithetical to both
writing ...
Posts
Absolutely! Term limits would keep the incumbent honest and hardworking. Actually a fellow Shelfarian on the Better Than Starbucks link, a lawyer, says legally no campaign promises need be kept under law. And we are finding that to be the case for many of the incumbents.
ReplyDeleteOur local congressman is getting re-elected because he is working hard for the local solutions and he does try to listen to his constituents on the issues in Washington. Faxing your wishes is a productive tool as is calling their office [s]. I voted for our present congressman and he is not of my 'party'. I do not believe voting party lines is productive - voting party lines keeps in the deadwood.