While our current societal state seems rife with disagreement, one thing most agree upon is that our political system is broken. It’s inefficient. It’s too much…
… too much money… too much spending… too much obstruction… too much manipulation of the rules… too much gerrymandering… too much partisanship… too much arrogance… too much lying… too much division… too much disrespect… too much rhetoric… too much secrecy… too much corruption… too much special interest… too much.
Regardless of what happens on Election Day, the American government will remain broken until we solve the “too much.” What’s the solution? Some contend it’s campaign finance reform. Others boast if only we all agreed that their party should possess all power.
My sense is that it starts with something far more simple. It starts by reminding the elect that they are public servants — not career politicians. Public servants do not forget whom they serve; career politicians tend to serve party, special interest, and often self.
We need to remind the elect that they are not the elite. We need to remind them that they are citizens just like the rest of us, putting on their pants — or pantsuits (hardeeharhar) — the same leg at a time. Let me thus strongly advocate this day for term limits. I believe we need to limit how long our legislators can spend in elected office.
One of the things I’ve learned in recent years is that when you realize a season or experience is limited, you’re more intentional during that time. You don’t take it for granted. You’re more apt to handle it wisely and well.
Term limits would keep our Senators and Representatives humbler, reminding them that they are not God’s gift to us. It would emphasize the servant aspect of their position. As stated by Dan Greenberg, a nonprofit executive and former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives:
- Term limits counterbalance incumbent advantages.
- Term limits secure Congress’s independent judgment.
- Term limits are a reality check.
- Term limits minimize members’ incentives for reelection-related “pork- barrel” legislation.
- Term limits would restore respect for Congress.
We certainly could use more respect for Congress.
Interestingly, term limit polling continually shows an overwhelming majority of us support such a measure. Note that the only substantial opposition comes from incumbent politicians and special interest groups; that should tell us something. Special interest groups/lobbyists want to keep “their people” in power. Said convicted-for-extensive-corruption, lobbyist Jack Abramoff, “As a lobbyist, I was completely against term limits, and I know a lot of people are against term limits, and I was one of the leaders, because why? As a lobbyist, once you buy a congressional office, you don’t have to re-buy that office in six years, right?” Again, that should tell us something. It should tell us lots.
Note the following:
- Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has spent over 51 years in office.
- Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is in year 45 of office.
- Sen. Thad Cochran (R- MS) — combining his Senate and House tenure — is in year 43.
- Rep. Don Young (R-AK) is also in year 43.
- Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has been in office for 41 straight years.
- His counterpart, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) has served the exact same amount of time.
- Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) has been in the Senate and House over 40 years.
- Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have both served for 39.
I thank the above for their public service. However, I desire the promise, independence, creativity, objectivity, and respect that new congressmen would infuse into our current inefficient political system. We’ve put up with it for too long. It’s too much.
Let’s talk to those who represent us…
Want to represent us well? Then start by being humble enough to limit how long you serve.
Respectfully…
AR