[upchuck]

Since winning his election in 2010, Mr. Paul has argued for creating term limits so members of Congress could serve a maximum of 12 years in each chamber.

The US desperately needs term limits. But 24 years is way too long.

I could vote for 12 years total.

Actually, truth be told, I hope someday we whittle down the fedgov to the point that legislating becomes a part time job with most of that time spent telecommuting from home. Trips to DC would be few.

Let's swing the pendulum from the fedgov to the states.

[NCC-1701]

Yep, 12 years max. For example, if I, NCC-1701, were to run for political office, I would go in KNOWING that, should I win, the 12 year countdown clock would begin. I could run six times for a house seat or two times for the senate. Or any combination that maxes out at 12 years. After that time, I could NO LONGER run again. Not lay off for a cycle or two the run again. My time would be up. No more elections to those two offices. Is that clear enough?

[FreedomPoster]

While I generally agree that we need term limits (and 12 years is about right), a large part of our problem is the 4th branch of government, the Bureaucracy. It is difficult for a newbie elected official to prevail in any meaningful way against entrenched member of the Bureaucracy.

We need a better solution there, too.

[COBOL2Java]

Actually, truth be told, I hope someday we whittle down the fedgov to the point that legislating becomes a part time job with most of that time spent telecommuting from home. Trips to DC would be few.

I remember an American History teacher opining once that the Founding Fathers probably chose the location of Washington DC to encourage that. At the time, it was a low-lying, swampy area that was miserably hot in the summer with lots of mosquitoes and black flies. Who'd want to stick around all year long?

Unfortunately, we improved insect control and invented air conditioning.