I personally dislike term limits because they affect the good along with the bad. Like many others, I'd like to see the likes of Ted Kennedy out of office. I don't blame the Massachusetts voters as much as I blame Republican Senators for bargaining with him. Ted Kennedy keeps getting reelected because he delivers for the majority of voters in his state. That would change if the alliances he makes with Republican Senators trying to win approval on one pet project or another stopped seeking his support. Their compromises keep Kennedy in office.
And a single six year term for the President would mean he was a lame duck from the day he is elected. That's a part of why Mexico cannot seem to improve. Their President is limited to a single term. Since Eisenhower, the nation has had to suffer the effect of lame-duck presidencies because of term limits. Four have been Republican, and one a Democrat.
I like your 60 day campaigning idea and sunset spending provisions. Those would be a welcomed relief.
Don't think of ideas as idle speculations. The seeds of our Republic were planted long before our Forefathers took up the idea. We might be planting the seeds of tomorrow.
Well said on all points.
THX for your kind words.
I have often thought that there should be a provision for the top 1% or 3% or 5% of elected officials to be allowed to serve half again or twice as long as the rest.
The criteria for deciding top X% should include humility, selflessness, objectivity, utter lack of corruption by special interests, faithfulness to the Constitution, wisdom and the like. Perhaps 45% of the decision to be decided by voters nationally and 55% to be decided by a grass roots citizens group selected somewhat like a jury but made up of acclaimed hard working citizens known for their humility, wisdom, selflessness, fairness, discernment etc. in their locales. Almost each locale has such people. But by definition, they don't seek acclaim. Let them decide key personnel issues for potentially longer terms [I typed "germs" first] of elected officials.