Comments on: Rules vs Individual Judgement http://www.kncell.org/blog/2009/10/14/rules-vs-individual-judgement/ Respecting Individuals... Mon, 09 May 2011 18:49:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Bob Gorman http://www.kncell.org/blog/2009/10/14/rules-vs-individual-judgement/comment-page-1/#comment-1738 Bob Gorman Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:27:45 +0000 http://blog.kncell.org/?p=23#comment-1738 Your comment got me thinking, and I agree for at least 3 reasons, financing, power madness, and horse trading. Financing: It would indirectly solve or at least reduce much of the campaign financing mess. From the point of view of candidates, I doubt many would pump the millions of $ into a campaign if they were only going to serve 2-4 terms. Likewise, the lobbyists would not invest as much, since the real payback is when a person stays for many terms and get entrenched with internal power. Power Madness: The personal motivational aspect. It is only the long term stays that build the illusion of absolute power. Horse Trading: The internal horse trading would be significantly reduced. It's hard to build an old-boy network if there are no old-boys! > The dilemma that we have, at this time, is that this type of change would have to be proposed, voted on and passed by those who are currently in power. What chance is there of that? We may have an opportunity in the next election cycle. If things keep going the way they are, & I don't see anything to change it, we may get a huge shift to Republican & Independent candidates. If we push them while candidates to sign a pledge to act in favor of term limits... Bob Your comment got me thinking, and I agree for at least 3 reasons, financing, power madness, and horse trading.

Financing: It would indirectly solve or at least reduce much of the campaign financing mess. From the point of view of candidates, I doubt many would pump the millions of $ into a campaign if they were only going to serve 2-4 terms. Likewise, the lobbyists would not invest as much, since the real payback is when a person stays for many terms and get entrenched with internal power.

Power Madness: The personal motivational aspect. It is only the long term stays that build the illusion of absolute power.

Horse Trading: The internal horse trading would be significantly reduced. It’s hard to build an old-boy network if there are no old-boys!

> The dilemma that we have, at this time, is that this type of change would have to be proposed, voted on and passed by those who are currently in power. What chance is there of that?

We may have an opportunity in the next election cycle. If things keep going the way they are, & I don’t see anything to change it, we may get a huge shift to Republican & Independent candidates. If we push them while candidates to sign a pledge to act in favor of term limits…

Bob

]]> By: Denise http://www.kncell.org/blog/2009/10/14/rules-vs-individual-judgement/comment-page-1/#comment-1737 Denise Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:38:41 +0000 http://blog.kncell.org/?p=23#comment-1737 In regards to term limits, what one group might consider being a “bad” person in office, another group might see as a “good” person. The problem with the idea of trying to vote out a politician, with whom we disagree, is that, without term limits, many representatives and senators are in constant campaign mode. Because of this, politicians want to “bring home the bacon” to their constituents, in order to be favored with their votes in the next election. They are, in essence, buying votes, at the expense of fiscal responsibility, good government, and the spirit of the Constitution. While some people might want to keep a particular congressman in office, it should be remembered that no one person is indispensable. Our founders knew that to be a fact. It is time for term limits to be imposed, for the welfare of the country. I would propose 4 terms in the House, which would total 8 years. This could be followed by two terms in the Senate, which would be a total of 12 years. If a politician was so favored by the members of their state that would give them a total of 20 years, which is long enough for anyone to spend in Washington. Of course, one could run for president after that, or be appointed to a position within an administration. The dilemma that we have, at this time, is that this type of change would have to be proposed, voted on and passed by those who are currently in power. What chance is there of that? In regards to term limits, what one group might consider being a “bad” person in office, another group might see as a “good” person. The problem with the idea of trying to vote out a politician, with whom we disagree, is that, without term limits, many representatives and senators are in constant campaign mode. Because of this, politicians want to “bring home the bacon” to their constituents, in order to be favored with their votes in the next election. They are, in essence, buying votes, at the expense of fiscal responsibility, good government, and the spirit of the Constitution.
While some people might want to keep a particular congressman in office, it should be remembered that no one person is indispensable. Our founders knew that to be a fact. It is time for term limits to be imposed, for the welfare of the country. I would propose 4 terms in the House, which would total 8 years. This could be followed by two terms in the Senate, which would be a total of 12 years. If a politician was so favored by the members of their state that would give them a total of 20 years, which is long enough for anyone to spend in Washington. Of course, one could run for president after that, or be appointed to a position within an administration.
The dilemma that we have, at this time, is that this type of change would have to be proposed, voted on and passed by those who are currently in power. What chance is there of that?

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