Term Limits or Revolution There are unfortunately no other options. Some of you may have read a previous article that I wrote about the US Congress having become an Aristocracy. If so, bear with me for a moment. For those without the patience, there is a listing at the end of this article with all the current senators and each senators total years in congress. Over the years the two parties have become so entrenched and powerful that to become a member of congress or remain a member of congress is nearly impossible without the support of one of the parties. Without term limits this has built into an aristocracy that calls to those seeking to enter a brotherhood of power, fame, and fortune. It opens the door for a select few to join an upper echelon of society that rules over the most powerful nation in the world. It has created elected officials who no longer provide a term of service in support of our nation, but rather a group of politicians that have turned a service into a career. I do not use the word “rule” lightly or inaccurately, for as the parties have gained in power over the years, so their priorities have changed from representation and governance to control and rule. Recognizing their strength and position, both parties realize that there is little the average American can do to hinder their ambitions. Even should Americans become upset with the actions of a particular politician, there is little that can be done unless his or her actions are so extreme as to have garnered the media’s attention for an extended period prior to an election. The reason being that the majority of Americans know little to nothing about those who have been elected to represent them. All that they know and hear is from the media before an election. Prior to an election, a party uses its money and influence to determine who will be elected. Most campaign contributors will contribute to the politician that the party supports. Without the contributions from the party and those who support the party, a politician does not have the funding to generate the media exposure that will guide the votes of the otherwise uninformed public. This process guarantees that even the few politicians with commendable goals must toe the line of their party if they wish to continue their political careers. If they do not support the party’s agenda, the party will select another member from their party to support during the primaries and guarantee the political demise of the shunned member. Term limits or revolution are the only two means of cracking this nearly impervious shell surrounding the aristocracy of congress. Revolution is of course the last resort. It should be avoided if at all possible. While it would undoubtedly free our country from the downwardly spiraling government structure, the damage to our nation would be astronomical. As such, term limits are the sole remaining option without the violence and destruction. Some may ask why term limits are of such importance and others may argue that term limits will not break the stranglehold of the two parties. The parties should have been broken a hundred years ago, before they develop such a strong foundation. We need to accept the fact that the parties are not going to be broken under the current circumstances. Even new parties, such as the Tea Party, are founded on a set of beliefs that will draw only a certain percentage of Americans to them. The only option is an alternative that the majority of Americans, right wing, left wing, and all in between, can agree on. That option is that career politicians are an aristocracy and that career politicians do not make their decisions in the best interest of the nation or their constituents. By limiting terms we accomplish three things. The first is that we deny the opportunity of congress being a career. For many seeking power and fortune, knowing that their time in congress will not supply them with a career throughout their employable years, they will likely seek to build their fortunes elsewhere. In addition, many will recognize that with a limited duration in congress, they will be forced to return to the working world after their term and therefore be impacted by the decisions they made while in congress. The second is re-establishing a connection between the politician and the people. Take a moment to consider the lifestyle of a member of congress. They live the life of aristocrats. Their every need is catered to. They are surrounded by people fawning over their every word and action. They have corporations, companies, and groups gifting them continuously in the hopes of receiving their support. It is a lifestyle so plush and pampered that there is no relationship to the lifestyle of the average American. The longer a politician lives this life, the further the divide from reality. The general rule of thumb is that a generation is defined as 20 to 25 years. In the time that some senators have been in congress, a child has been born, raised, educated, married, and has children of his or her own. A person who was not quite old enough to vote when some joined congress, now has grown children who in turn have children in middle school. The point being that some of these career politicians, secluded in their aristocratic lifestyle, are a generation or two out of touch with the current population. Their decisions, besides being self-centered, are outdated from the existing needs of their constituents. The third accomplishment is breaking the authoritative structure in congress. While every senator’s vote is equal, the everyday running of the senate and positions of authority within the senate are determined by seniority. The first factor in seniority is the number of years in the senate. The second is the number of total years in congress. These same senators, who are out of touch with reality for a generation or two, are the senators who are controlling how the senate is being run on a daily basis. Limiting terms will guarantee that those running the senate will never be removed from reality by more than a set number of years. As far as the actual term limits, my suggestion is 12 years total in congress. This could be two six-year terms in the senate; three two-year terms in the house and one six-year term in the senate; or six two-year terms in the house. Twelve years is not a long enough period to attract those seeking a career, yet it remains long enough to allow for an overlap in experience and thereby limits a disconnect from a complete rollover of members every few years. When you look at the listing of senators below, consider what you have just read. Look at the names of those you tend to hear most often in the media and look at their years in congress. Terms limits can be imposed, but it won’t be easy. For those who say it can’t be done and refuse to spread the idea, that’s ok… Sit on the sidelines and watch. We don’t want quitters and pessimists slowing us down. We the People created this nation. We the People will shift its course. But, to do so will not be easy. In this case, we will have to stand side by side with people we do not like and whose morality and beliefs we do not agree with. For this one step alone we will have to shelve our disagreements and prepare to vote as ONE in a national ballet. It can be done and it will be done. Will you be part of the future or will you sit on your butt and wait for someone to save your country for you? Senators in the 113th Congress & Their Total Years In Congress Senator Total Years in Congress Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 38 Tom Harkin[n 2] (D-IA) 38 Orrin Hatch (R-UT) 36 Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) 36 Max Baucus (D-MT) 35 Thad Cochran (R-MS) 35 Carl Levin (D-MI) 34 Richard Shelby (R-AL) 34 Chuck Grassley (R-IA) 32 Pat Roberts (R-KS) 32 Chuck Schumer (D-NY) 32 John McCain (R-AZ) 30 Harry Reid (D-NV) 30 Barbara Boxer (D-CA) 30 Dick Durbin (D-IL) 30 Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 28 Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) 28 Tim Johnson (D-SD) 26 Ben Cardin (D-MD) 26 Bill Nelson (D-FL) 24 Jack Reed (D-RI) 22 Tom Carper (D-DE) 22 Bernie Sanders (I-VT) 22 Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 21 Patty Murray (D-WA) 20 Mike Crapo (R-ID) 20 Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 20 Jim Inhofe (R-OK) 19 Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 18 Richard Burr (R-NC) 18 Ron Wyden (D-OR) 17 Mary Landrieu (D-LA) 16 Jeff Sessions (R-AL) 16 Susan Collins (R-ME) 16 Mike Enzi (R-WY) 16 Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) 16 Roy Blunt (R-MO) 16 Jerry Moran (R-KS) 16 Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 15 Maria Cantwell (D-WA) 14 Tom Coburn (R-OK) 14 John Thune (R-SD) 14 Mark Udall (D-CO) 14 Tom Udall (D-NM) 14 Rob Portman (R-OH) 14 Johnny Isakson (R-GA) 13 David Vitter (R-LA) 13 Jeff Flake (R-AZ) 13 Dan Coats (R-IN) 12 John Boozman (R-AR) 12 Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) 11 Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) 10 Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 10 John Cornyn[n 4] (R-TX) 10 Mark Pryor (D-AR) 10 Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) 10 Mark Warner (D-VA) 8 Pat Toomey (R-PA) 8 Bob Menendez (D-NJ) 7 Joe Donnelly (D-IN) 7 Chris Murphy (D-CT) 7 Mazie Hirono (D-HI) 7 Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) 6 Bob Corker (R-TN) 6 Claire McCaskill (D-MO) 6 Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) 6 Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) 6 Jon Tester (D-MT) 6 Roger Wicker (R-MS) 6 Jim Risch (R-ID) 5 Martin Heinrich (D-NM) 5 Mike Johanns (R-NE) 4 Kay Hagan (D-NC) 4 Jeff Merkley (D-OR) 4 Mark Begich (D-AK) 4 Michael Bennet (D-CO) 4 Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) 4 Al Franken (D-MN) 4 Joe Manchin (D-WV) 3 Chris Coons (D-DE) 3 Mark Kirk (R-IL) 3 John Hoeven (R-ND) 2 Marco Rubio (R-FL) 2 Ron Johnson (R-WI) 2 Rand Paul (R-KY) 2 Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) 2 Mike Lee (R-UT) 2 Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) 2 Dean Heller (R-NV) 2 Brian Schatz (D-HI) 1 Tim Scott (R-SC) 1 Angus King (I-ME) 1 Tim Kaine (D-VA) 1 Ted Cruz (R-TX) 1 Elizabeth Warren[n 8] (D-MA) 1 Deb Fischer (R-NE) 1 Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) 1 Jeffrey Chiesa (R-NJ) 1 Ed Markey (D-MA) 1 John Barrasso (R-WY) 0
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 01:23:19 +0000
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