General Discussion

SHRED

(28,136 posts) Sat Sep 17, 2016, 12:01 PM Sep 2016

Term Limits

I don't understand the point of them.

Lobbyists don't have term limits.
Big money doesn't have term limits.
The "revolving door" doesn't have term limits.

Yet when we elect someone who does good for us many are subjected to term limits.

Forcing new office holders to face the three issues I've listed does nothing to change the system.

It's big money that has corrupted our democracy and throwing inexperienced politicians into that system accomplishes what besides limiting our democracy?

5 replies

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Term Limits (Original Post) SHRED Sep 2016 OP

The "term limits" in the... Mike Nelson Sep 2016 #1

With term limits, you lose experience sweetloukillbot Sep 2016 #2

Yep SHRED Sep 2016 #3

It's a double edged sword. Glassunion Sep 2016 #4

For the executive branch it makes sense to me loyalsister Sep 2016 #5

Mike Nelson

(9,956 posts)

1. The "term limits" in the...

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Sat Sep 17, 2016, 12:14 PM

Sep 2016

...original Constitution were fine. Six years four years, two years.... Republicans did not like FDR winning four times, so they pushed the "Presidential term limits" rule. More recently, Republicans and Newt Gingrich re-started the movement to change the House of Representatives rule from Democratic to Republican. Mostly, ii is intended to restrict voters' rights to re-elect Democrats.

sweetloukillbot

(11,024 posts)

2. With term limits, you lose experience

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Sat Sep 17, 2016, 12:40 PM

Sep 2016

If someone is doing a good job, why should they be removed? And if they are doing a bad job, there are elections. And I've noticed in Arizona that they all seem to find ways to stay in office anyhow. Representative for 3 terms (or whatever, I don't remember the exact limit), then Senator, then Corp. Commission... And that's not even counting the move through the executive branch - Superintendent of Schools to Attorney General (What do they have to do with each other???) to Sec. of State to Governor. And by that time their kids are ready to run for their parents original seat.

SHRED

(28,136 posts)

3. Yep

Reply to sweetloukillbot (Reply #2)

Sat Sep 17, 2016, 12:49 PM

Sep 2016

Glassunion

(10,201 posts)

4. It's a double edged sword.

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Sat Sep 17, 2016, 02:06 PM

Sep 2016

You lose experience, you gain not having a dictator.

I prefer term limits. Without them you can, in reality have 12, 16 years of Ronald Regan, we could still be sitting with Bush, so... Fuck that.

loyalsister

(13,390 posts)

5. For the executive branch it makes sense to me

Reply to SHRED (Original post)

Sat Sep 17, 2016, 02:46 PM

Sep 2016

But, for state legislatures and congress it is a terrible idea. I know this because we have them in MO. Now, they serve their 8 yrs then get jobs as lobbyists and propose legislation because the inexperienced legislators are out of their league and welcome it.

Institutional memory is valuable. The jobs of representatives and senators should be performed by professionals.

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