Another Look at Term Limits

As late as last year, I opposed term limits. The idea of term limits wasn't offensive to me, but the thought of limiting who the people could choose to represent them was.

But things have changed. My views have changed. What should be a citizen just doing civic duty is no longer what we have. Winning an election to be a Senator or a Representative these days amounts to winning the lottery. Being an elected official should not be a profession but instead an obligation. Our politicians have made serving a lifelong endeavor, instead of just a slice out of one's existence to briefly serve. You ask, "What does it hurt to have professional politicians?"

Prolonged stays in power is corruptive. Being in power is addictive. The incumbent's re-election becomes the focus of their term. Raising money for re-election, arranging for the distribution of tax money to projects that are dubious but necessary for re-election make up just a fragment of the efforts our elected representative use to further their self-interest.

It is Utopian in today's world to believe that we could elect someone with the character to do the business of serving the people and not always running for re-election. Our Congress in both Houses has seen fit to design their daily operations with a pecking order built on 'Seniority'. The simplified version means that anybody winning an elective position for the first time has limited political power until he proves his ambition by winning subsequent terms in office. The greater the ambition of an individual, the easier it is to manipulate him.

A very ambitious politician becomes a lackey for the powerful incumbents who are able to threaten him with isolation from the best committees, and denial of help from the party infrastructure for the perennial upcoming elections. The pressure is overwhelming, especially to a young politician with ambition. This is how the political parties are able to silence new members who campaigned at home on the basis of new ideas. It just takes a term or two for that new member to be just like those he criticized when he first ran for election.

Term limits will not solve all of our problems in Washington, but it will at least help tear down that wall of seniority that keeps us going down the same road all the time.

Cheers,
-Robert-