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Term Limits in Politics
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The current rage in politics is term limits. The theory is that if we limit the number of years or terms public officials can serve in a position, we will get better government. In stating that theory, I'm being as kind as I can. Because I suspect that the real reason is jealousy--we don't like successful people. Even more, we don't like them when they represent somebody else. Folks in Texas, for example, want Ted Kennedy out of the Senate. The people in Massachusetts want to keep him as their representative, though. So it will satisfy the Texans if term limits get Kennedy out. I find the theory that government will be better with term limits to be silly. If the voters want somebody, democratic theory holds they should be able to vote for him, if he's willing to run. If the voters don't want to vote for him, they don't have to. This idea is so simple that I cannot understand why so many people think it can't work well. I've also been told that term limits will free representatives from the influence of lobbyists and other interest groups. I don't see how that can happen. When we continually send inexperienced people to represent us, won't those novices be even more likely to be influenced by those who have more resources and more experience and knowledge? The congressional staff, for example, will know more about procedure and influence than the representatives they serve. Do we really want to end up with government policy decided by clerks? |
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