Some thoughts on "term limits"

[SHRED]

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Until we limit big money corporate career lobbyists from our politics I see nothing that term limits would accomplish.

In fact I think feeding greenhorn politicians to seasoned lobbyists would worsen the situation.
If a politician knows they are on a limited time frame they will be looking to curry favor from the fat cats for their next career move (even more than they do now).

Term limits sound good on a reactionary level but when we back off and think about the system we have I say we need to look deeper.

More:
http://www.publicampaign.org/


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[canoeist52]

1. Already have term limits. They're called elections.

[ellenfl]

2. without term limits, we might still have jebbie as governor.

i firmly believe his elections were the tryouts for the vote stealing perpetrated by his big bro.

ellen fl

[MattBaggins]

5. So what. I do not like JEB one iota

but I don't get my guy elected by denying other people their right to vote for the candidate of their choice.

The biggest fascist movement in America is the Term Limit movement. You vote for your guy and I vote for mine and if you do not like the outcome, work harder next time.

[ellenfl]

8. but it's ok to steal elections?

i don't like term limits either, but i like the bush crime family less. considering all of the voter suppression that happened here in florida since 1999, i'm happy that we currently have term limits. now we finally have amendments on the ballot to undo the gerrymandering of our state and the repub legislature has put their own amendment on the ballot that would negate those citizen initiated amendments. and, of course, it will be worded to mean the opposite of what you think it means. i've seen lots of these on my ballot. sorry, but as long as they do sh*t like this, i will appreciate term limits.

ellen fl

[MattBaggins]

3. Exactly

There is nothing worse than "term limit" fascists.

I can't get my guy elected or I am one of those bandwagon so-called independents who sticks their nose up in the air and repeats platitudes about how bad government is. I am too lazy to do anything myself so I want to force other people to vote my way.

[canoeist52]

7. That is, of course, assuming legally counted ballots.

We do need election reform.

[miscsoc]

4. I have said this same shit on many occasions

If you can't run for re-election anyway, why NOT just do whatever the guy offering you a cushy sinecure when you retire tells you to.

I mean what can the people you represent do? They can't vote against you, can they?

[KharmaTrain]

6. Also Prevent Them From Flipping Into Lobbyists...

I'm not for term limits as the system has been established based on senority and it enables a continutiy of government. A total changeover of 435 representatives every two years would create more chaos and gridlock as ever and while the faces may change, the party would remain and become more powerful. As other posters have said, we already have term limits, its called the election.

Two other thoughts. First...to cut down on the big money thrown at our politicians I'd suggest shortening and defining the campaign season. Since the finance reform horse is out of the barn, then limit the time they can spend. We could use the British model, limit campaigning...no teevee ads or billboards...until 90 days before the election. These endless campaigns and fundraising are what makes the corporate money so welcome.

Then pass a law that prohibits any former federal employee...from President and Senator to paper pusher at the small rodent administration from becoming a lobbyist for a minimum of 5 years. Stop making government service as a gateway to selling out that same government.

[laughingliberal]

9. Always skeptical of ideas so many Republicans favor. I think we should repeal limit for POTUS. eom