Saturday, August 15, 2009

We Need Term Limits

Congressional service was never designed to become a lifetime career. Representation was designed to be fluid and diverse, constantly changing, keeping in time with the issues and evolving perspectives. However, political careers have taken the place of congressional service and rarely ever producing such service.

Term limits were originally left out of the Constitution because the majority drafting the text felt that people would hardly desire to serve more than one or two terms. Actually, what is defined is the time that one person has to stay in office once elected. Over the last century, “Term Limits” has had time in the spotlight, most times this attention comes during economic hardship because it is felt by more Americans that the institution of government shouldn't be made up of these long-serving representatives who are re-elected without challenge or debate. We have Senators who have been in office for more than 40 years, Congressmen who have been in office for more than 30 years. These “Monuments” as I have come to call them will sooner have their sculpture complete and erected inside of the Capital than return to average citizenship.

Many American voters wonder how these representatives can possibly understand the perspective of the average citizen. A new push for Term Limits is necessary and this time we must prevail. America has every ability to rise above its challenges and see the needs of its people met; however, this can only be accomplished by those elected to public service without the tether of political party or power to hold back the will of the people. Good representation must be refreshed and renewed.

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