Term limits are probably a good idea, but it really doesn't matter. In order to pass term limits, the people whose terms would be limited would have to vote for them - although, I supposed they could grandfather themselves in.
Term limits are probably a good idea, but it really doesn't matter. In order to pass term limits, the people whose terms would be limited would have to vote for them - although, I supposed they could grandfather themselves in.
No one has ever offered me any evidence of why term limits for Congress and the Senate would be a bad idea. If the President can only serve 2 terms, why should elected representatives be able to serve more than two terms?
At least that way, you wouldn't have representatives with effective life appointments, see Schumer, Pelosi, McConnell et al.
Contrary to popular belief, running the country is highly nuanced and requires great skill. Drafting laws is a prime example. Many if not most laws are complex, trying to disallow certain harmful conduct but allowing other related conduct. If a law contains unnecessary ambiguities or does not accurately delineate proscribed conduct from other related conduct it puts undue strain on commerce, law enforcement, the judicial system, etc. This happen enough as it is.
With term limits you might well have greenish legislators either writing unsound bills or being overly reliant on congressional staffer, that is unless the congressional staffers are also green. As it is, Congressional staffers are heavily relied upon to craft bills, but term limits would likely tremendously add to that reliance.
Parliamentary procedure is highly nuanced and massive. But it can be used effectively if one knows what he is doing.
Can you image if the entire Congress were run like the Trump Administration.
With no term limits you might see even more Congressmen mouthing off on cable news networks and endearing themselves to lobbyists, in effect auditioning for jobs after their forced retirement. This happens already, but this process might be intensified.
Bottom line, not having term limits for Congress is a problem, but having term limits may well present an even bigger problem. Problem solving is good but should not create bigger problems.
If term limits were instituted, it should be done carefully. To the degree possible, terms should be staggered. Additionally, all new Congressmen should be required to take a intensive training course.
IMHO, the question is about evidence is rather "do limits do any meaningful good? They've been around for over 30 years in many states. What is the result? There are numerous studies on the subject, and they generally point to the same thing. The nature of elected politicians' career arc changes, but not really for the better. We get lower legislator competency, more political party influence, more interest group and lobby influence, and more power in the hands of professional party staffers and unelected legislative staffers and public administrators. Term limits in practice just don't solve the problems people want solved because human nature is what it is and has been for thousands of years.
Term limits are probably a good idea, but it really doesn't matter. In order to pass term limits, the people whose terms would be limited would have to vote for them - although, I supposed they could grandfather themselves in.
No one has ever offered me any evidence of why term limits for Congress and the Senate would be a bad idea. If the President can only serve 2 terms, why should elected representatives be able to serve more than two terms?
At least that way, you wouldn't have representatives with effective life appointments, see Schumer, Pelosi, McConnell et al.
Contrary to popular belief, running the country is highly nuanced and requires great skill. Drafting laws is a prime example. Many if not most laws are complex, trying to disallow certain harmful conduct but allowing other related conduct. If a law contains unnecessary ambiguities or does not accurately delineate proscribed conduct from other related conduct it puts undue strain on commerce, law enforcement, the judicial system, etc. This happen enough as it is.
With term limits you might well have greenish legislators either writing unsound bills or being overly reliant on congressional staffer, that is unless the congressional staffers are also green. As it is, Congressional staffers are heavily relied upon to craft bills, but term limits would likely tremendously add to that reliance.
Parliamentary procedure is highly nuanced and massive. But it can be used effectively if one knows what he is doing.
Can you image if the entire Congress were run like the Trump Administration.
With no term limits you might see even more Congressmen mouthing off on cable news networks and endearing themselves to lobbyists, in effect auditioning for jobs after their forced retirement. This happens already, but this process might be intensified.
Bottom line, not having term limits for Congress is a problem, but having term limits may well present an even bigger problem. Problem solving is good but should not create bigger problems.
If term limits were instituted, it should be done carefully. To the degree possible, terms should be staggered. Additionally, all new Congressmen should be required to take a intensive training course.
IMHO, the question is about evidence is rather "do limits do any meaningful good? They've been around for over 30 years in many states. What is the result? There are numerous studies on the subject, and they generally point to the same thing. The nature of elected politicians' career arc changes, but not really for the better. We get lower legislator competency, more political party influence, more interest group and lobby influence, and more power in the hands of professional party staffers and unelected legislative staffers and public administrators. Term limits in practice just don't solve the problems people want solved because human nature is what it is and has been for thousands of years.
Scott, everything you listed already happens without term limits!
Instituting an 8 year maximum isn't going to make any of those negatives any worse!
Nor better with the many places enacting TL's, so I believe the experiment has proven without meaningful value.