Title: Why We Need Term Limits Now
Original CoS Document (slug): why-we-need-term-limits-now
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Created: 2023-07-18 14:35:00
Updated: 2023-07-27 03:00:00
Published: 2023-07-20 00:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T21:25:54.932753726
Dan Green, in writing for The Heritage Foundation, summarizes the need for Convention of States best when he said.
“It is difficult to overstate the extent to which term limits would change Congress. They are supported by large majorities of most American demographic groups; they are opposed primarily by incumbent politicians and the special interest groups which depend on them. Term limits would ameliorate many of America's most serious political problems by counterbalancing incumbent advantages, ensuring congressional turnover, securing independent congressional judgment, and reducing election-related incentives for wasteful government spending. Perhaps most important, Congress would acquire a sense of its own fragility and temporariness, possibly even coming to learn that it would acquire more legitimacy as an institution by doing better work on fewer tasks.”
You wipe the drool from this person's face, what little they say is incoherent, or maybe some small event sets them off in a senseless rant. That person's environment is very closely monitored and controlled to prevent upset.
It's bad enough if it happens to a friend or family member, let alone someone in Congress whose job it is to be your voice in the halls of our federal government.
One recent survey says that 33 congressmen have been in office for 40 years or more. At this point, some are so incapacitated that their staff performs all of their duties except push the button to vote. A vote that affects the lives and livelihoods of every citizen in this country.
This writer doesn't have to tell you how that person's vote is influenced by the opinions and worldviews of those around that representative.
It sounds Orwellian, something clear out of “The Twilight Zone,” but it is actually happening.
The problem is: They have been in office so long, they have amassed more than enough power to stay in office, no matter what their condition. They will not go peacefully into the night. To any challenger, they are untouchable.
One such Representative is Maxine Waters. She is in the exact situation described above and has been in Congress since 1991. She recently told demonstrators in Minnesota that they should “get more confrontational” (Chicago style). And she doesn't even make the Top Ten. See the chart below.
The madness extends to both sides of the aisle.
Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and represented Alabama from 1987 onward. In 1987, he ran as a “moderate Democrat so as not to alienate a good portion of his voter base. He cruised to an easy victory. In 1994, he went full-on Republican. He finally called it quits in January of this year.
Data: Quorum; Chart: Thomas Oide/Axios
Longest-serving members of Congress
Years in Congress; Bars colored by party affiliation
Rep. Don Young
AK-At-large 48 years
Sen. Patrick Leahy
VT 47 years Sen. Chuck Grassley
IA 47 years
Sen. Ed Markey
MA 45 years
Sen. Richard Shelby
AL 43 years
Sen. Ron Wyden
OR 41 years
Sen. Chuck Schumer
NY 41 years
Rep. Hal Rogers
KY-05 41 years
Rep. Chris Smith
NJ-04 41 years
Rep. Steny Hoyer
MD-05 40 years
From the above information, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) has spent more time in Congress than anyone else currently in office, with 48 years in the House of Representatives, according to Quorum data.
Kevin McCarthy, the Republican Golden Boy with 8 terms under his belt.
The Party in Red was hoping to reverse everything done under Pelosi. ( where retired lawmakers go/Millionaires is another blog) Those hopes have been dashed. The New Green Deal marches on.
Regardless of Party affiliation, they are as hard to get rid of as gum on the bottom of your shoe on a hot day.
Just to put it in perspective:
By the numbers: The average American is 20 years younger than the average representative in the House and Senate. Forty percent of current senators and 26% of representatives are 65 years or older — and many have strolled the Capitol's marble halls for decades.
Less than 5% of members are from the ages of 25 to 40, compared to 33% of the U.S. population, Quorum notes.
Four of the top 10 longest-serving members of Congress — Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Ron Wyden (R-Ore.), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — have served in both chambers.
So, how do we solve this problem?
By now, you've heard much about term limits. Hopefully not from some fringe political group, or your view of it will be skewed one way or the other.
66% of all Americans, regardless of age, race, or political affiliation, favor term limits.
Since about 1995, many people have come to the stark realization that our Congress just isn't working like it's supposed to. A recent poll confirms it:
A new poll suggests Americans have a severe lack of faith in democracy, and political parties.
Only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults give high ratings to the way democracy is working in the United States or how well it represents the interests of most Americans. Jul 14th (128 kB)
In both the House of Representatives (they're supposed to be representing us) and the Senate, lobbyists and special interests rule the roost.
When large corporations come into our state, We The People cry “Corporate Welfare,” and rightly so. But somehow we are silent when one of our State Representatives (with lobbyists in his ear) comes up with a plan or legislation that will cost taxpayer money to all the states. This is not a good idea. It smacks of Socialism.
Winston Churchill once said,” Socialism is where everyone is miserable, equally.“
Ever notice how in those countries, these 'representatives” re-elect themselves? That's why we have a Constitution that prevents that from happening.
Even today, the Russian word “Czar (Tsar) is used. That's where the public official receives a bribe for services rendered. You can't work the System without some sort of payment. You may have noticed that term being used. It is not an accident.
This is what Article V of our Constitution says:
“The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, OR on the Application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made before the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.”
So, you see, we have a peaceful, legal means to end this madness. Sure, the feds will kick and scream like a spoiled kid in the grocery store,
but We the People are the parents (the states). We made them. They did not make us.
This author doesn't want to reduce it to oversimplify, but it really is that simple. Convention of States is the only way to accomplish this.
P.S.: Being partisan doesn't help. That only alienates people who are potentially our allies.
I think our friend Richard Shelby knew that. He cruised easily to victory by not alienating anyone.
Better a friend who doesn't agree with you totally, than one who you have needlessly offended.
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