[tahoeblue]

Pork - yes the problem with the system.

I don't think term limits are the answer - if folks want to reelect someone over and over - so be it.

What would change the system is to simply get rid of the seniority system in Congress. The majority party gets the chairs (as now), and the majority of the committee positions (as now). But instead of filling these seats based on seniority, you just pull the names out of a hat. That way, you don't know from one term to another who will be on a committee, and who will chair a committee - only that is will be a majority member. It makes it tough to contribute to campaigns if you do so for favoritism, as you have no idea where your man will end up. If your guy can deliver under that type of system - great! Reelect him for life. Such a system would help change things from "what's right for me" to simply "what's right" I don't recall where the founders spelled out the system of favoritism and power brokering that now rules Congress.

[Reily]

yes but term limits would fix the seniority system problem immediately ! Its hard to claim seniority when you only have two terms to deal with.

Another way of fixing the problem is to go back to the system that the Founding Fathers intended, one of the state legislatures electing the senators. I guarantee there are plenty of egomaniacs in state legislatures that would like the tile US Senator. That would increase competition & make the Senators more beholden to their respective states!