Citizens for Term Limits

Term Limits Would End This Madness

By Paul H. Dykes

Approval ratings for Congress are dismal for good reason. Our congress men and women, with few exceptions, are more concerned with their own re-election and shameful party loyalty than they are with the good of the country. Their votes are influenced by how they or their party will be perceived in their re-election campaign, not what’s best for the citizens. Their health insurance and retirement benefits are arrogant and shameful when compared with the general public. AND it is getting worse! Enough already! This madness would disappear with term limits. Our founding fathers intended congress to be one term and out. That way, citizens would come in, focus on the citizens’ best interest, and then return to being a citizen. Congress would not be there long enough to get contaminated. We, the citizens of this United States, must bring this about because congress is not capable of governing themselves.


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Comments

  1. I have been a long term advocate of term limits on Congress. As a high school government teacher I teach it in my government classes and I have written many letter to my congressman and senators. Of course, you know as well as I that neither the House nor the Senate will voluntarily give up its power. We cannot expect that congress will be willing to give a two thirds vote for a Constitutional Amendment.

    Our only recourse is the second line to amendment laid out in Article V of the Constitution. Two thirds of the states must demand a constitutional convention to call for an amendment to limit congressional terms. The other conclusion is the danger that a constitutional convention would lead to other major changes to the Constitution or even a complete rewrite of the document (that is what happened in Philadelphia in 1787). The question we must be willing to address is, are we willing to chance the major changes that might accompany a convention or is the risk to our Constitution and our government too great. Personally, I think not. I am in favor of a convention to address term limits and possibly one or two other issues such as gerrymandering. These are issues that our Founders sort of took for granted. As we have learned, the thirst for power is too great for most politicians to overcome on their own.
    — David W. Williams    Feb 22, 04:51 PM    #
  2. We need a definite plan to require term limits. We need someone who is willing to give their time (and some of their money) to lead the movement. We need a way to raise money, get media attention, and pull people together.

    I am willing to support such an initiative. How can I help?
    — Linda    May 15, 02:52 PM    #
  3. I am trying to get this TERM LIMIT message out in my community Plymouth, MA (America’s Home Town) for all levels of government.
    The old addage is so true in these elected positions – “Power corrupts & absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
    Once electe dthey loose sight of their elected duty & spend all their time & energy getting elected & getting as much PORK as possible to buy votes & favors from their supporters.
    “Elected by a majority but elected to serve ALL”.
    I’ll give everyone 2 prime reasons for term limits at the congressional level. Robert C. Byrd (elected 9 times in Senate) & EDward M. Kennedy (elected 9 times in Senate). Two additional reasons at the congressional level – JOhn D, Dingell – (elected 27 timesin the House of Rep.) & John Conyers – (elected 22 times in House of Rep.).
    If it is good enoiugh for the president, many Governors & some Mayors then why not for ALL elected officials. Think of all the money saved in retirement and health insurance, PLUS much more time spent doing the people’s business instead of campaigning, PLUS a major reduction in PORK & pay-off.
    — Charles Checkley    May 28, 01:20 AM    #
  4. I agree, term limits are needed to turn our country around and dispell the idea of career politicians. This is not how our forefathers meant for it to happen. It is time for all Americans to wake up and take charge of the problem. Americans as individuals can be exceedingly intelligent, but as a whole, we can be some really ignorant carbon units. While we are talking term limits, let’s make an age limit for the Supreme Court.
    — Bill Lewis    Jun 10, 06:58 PM    #
  5. I, too, have been a long-term advocate of TERM LIMITS. Just having read the article about the “distinguished” Senator from Alaska, he is but “one more nail” in that “coffin”. We ALL know that the most important thing on ANY, AND ALL, elected officials mind is RE-ELECTION! There should be NO retirement or health benefits for the elected individual (for their staff, which also needs to be downsized, OK, but not for them). Let them purchase a health policy and contribute personally to retirement just like they expect me to do! Alongside with limiting the terms of our elected officials, however, should be the “outlawing” of lobbying! Lobbists speak only for themselves and for their employers NOT for the officials constituents nor, for that matter, for the population of the United States. There is absolutely no legitimate reason for “lobbying” an elected official! In this day of computers there is no reason why elected officials cannot poll their district relative to any vote that comes up. BUT THEN, they should be BOUND to vote as directed by the poll. One of the most important questions to ask a person running for public office is: “Where do you stand relative to term limits?”.
    — Bob Peterson    Jul 28, 05:22 PM    #
  6. Let’s send a message that “we the people” want citizen legislators who will represent our best interests, not their own. We can do that by signing this simple petition expressing our fervent desire to return to representative government:

    I, the undersigned, believe Members of Congress should be limited to three terms in office.

    That’s it. Go here to sign (it only takes a minute):

    http://www.termlimits.org/content.asp?admin=Y&contentid=28

    Or click on link on right hand side of main site: www.termlimits.org

    Please forward to everyone on your email lists. Polls show that nearly everyone—including Democrats, Republicans and Independents—support term limits. Try it, you’ll find even your apolitical friends will be eager to sign on.

    “Rotation in office and the citizen legislator was once an American tradition and, with your help, will be again. Thank you! -Philip Blumel, president U.S. Term Limits, www.termlimits.org
    — George Blumel    Aug 10, 12:05 AM    #
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