Congress, Voters on Different Planets

The Holland Sentinel ^ | August 20, 2007 | Alan Helvig

[alicewonders]

The ultimate solution to the power problem is term limits.

AMEN! How do we get term limits passed? I think it is critical to our future. What is the process?

Or have the crooks set it up so they have to vote on it themselves? If so, we are doomed. There must be a loophole - what can a citizen do to start this?

[43north]

I heard Carl Levin, D-MI compalining that the leadership of the government of Iraq should be changed because it has proven to be so ineffective.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

[goldstategop]

When the GOP ditched congressional term limits, a key pledge in the Contract With America, it was clear it was no different from the Democrats it replaced. When politicians serve 20 years or more in Congress, they can become insulated from the people they are elected to represent. Two terms for the Senate and six terms for the House ought to be plenty. If a politician can't get it done in 12 years, his time should be up and someone else should take over.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[alicewonders]

If we would simply restrict our elected officials to 20 years on the Hill, we would not have to deal with the insanity that seems to settle in on our career politicians.

I'm thinking 6 years is plenty long enough to be a "public servant". Let more people take a turn at it. They get in & know they only have so long to make a difference & then they get back out into real life. Our government today is living proof of what you get with "lifers".

[Tenacious 1]

How do we get term limits passed

Congress would have to amend the constitution. Those power hungry aristocrats would have to "want" to vote themselves out of office after a time. And forget 20 years...10 years at most.

[joe fonebone]

no, it can be done on the local and state level...get a petition drive going for your state, and cut the politicans right out of the decision

[TruthFactor]

I second and third the imposition of term-limits on Congress. It is the only thing that will stop their quest for power.

[David Isaac]

At the risk of repeating myself, it was not because Republicans were to conservative that caused the massacre in ‘08. It was because GOP Congressmen and Senators acted much more like Democrats than Republicans. Why they did so is open to debate, while sending them back was not.

[alicewonders]

no, it can be done on the local and state level...get a petition drive going for your state, and cut the politicans right out of the decision

I'm going to look into this for my state, Kentucky. We need to get this going NOW.

[gondramB]

One of the ironies that most congressmen have higher approval individually. People like their congressman more than “congress.”

[2ndDivisionVet]

Demand a border fence! Build it NOW!! Beef up the border patrol and close our borders! Stop the DREAM Act!!

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Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

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Take a look at their hidden agenda: http://www.mexica-movement.org

[do the dhue]

I wish they would set a benchmark to impeach themselves by the end of the month.

[DManA]

Then and only then will Congress be what it was originally intended to be.

For Congress to be what the founders intended, we would have to dismantle 90% of the Federal bureaucracy. I doubt the author has really thought this through.

[quantim]

You have succinctly, colloquially, and perhaps inadvertently explained why Mr. Hunter never had a chance at the WH in spite of his most respected status.

[texaslil]

“...what can a citizen do to start this?”

We already have term limits.....just don’t vote for any incumbent!!!

[TNCMAXQ]

Unfortunately I don’t think there will ever be term limits at the federal level since it takes a two thirds majority of both houses of Congress to send an amendment to the states. They will never get that large of a vote. Gingrich and company at least brought this up for a vote in 1995 but it failed. Even if every Republican in the House had voted in favor it would have fallen far short of the 2/3 number.

[MrB]

When was the last time you heard a Congressman ask whether something they were contemplating was a Constitutionally authorized power of Congress?

When was the last time someone stood up and said “this is not authorized under the 17 powers that the sovereign states ALLOWED the federal government to have”?

[ClaireSolt]

Listen to the Dems repeat their fight, fight, fight mantra. If you want the bickering to end, elect problem solvers instead of fighters.

[Tenacious 1]

no, it can be done on the local and state level...get a petition drive going for your state, and cut the politicans right out of the decision

My local and state reps are not as "out-of-control" as this nation's national senators and reps. Are you suggesting that each state could impose term limits on it's own national representation? Interesting thought. I don't know about the logistics or legalities of it. However, those constituents with the most influential representation, i.e. - MA, CA, NV, etc. would never go start the tide and the "also rans" would want more seniority representation. I don't think it would work at the state level if that is what you meant for national representation.