TERM LIMITS


For the Math nerds:
Lim 
X-->1

In an earlier post, T.P. Voigt mentioned 12 things we can do to fix America. One of those was to set term limits for Congress. I would like to expound upon that and offer a specific solution. That ultimately is the goal of this blog; to not just point out national problems but to find sensible solutions.

Currently, the only limit in place for the federal government is the President. The President can serve two consecutive terms of four years. There is actually a way for a person to serve as President for 10 years. He or she would have to have been the Vice President for a President who was removed from office at least 2 years into the term. The VP would finish out the term as President and then still be able to run and potentially be elected twice.

But as for Congress, there is no such limit in place. Representatives are elected for 2 year terms and the Senate for 6 years. The Supreme Court Justices are given life appointments. They can die or retire, but their jobs are guaranteed so they can focus on the law and not their job security.

Because this blog is about actually offering solutions, here is mine.

I propose that we set the term limits as follows: The House of Representatives are allowed to be elected up to a total of 6 times, giving them 12 years to serve. These can be either concurrent or non-sequential. Members of the Senate are allowed 3 terms totaling 18 years. These can be either concurrent or non-sequential.

Why these numbers? Well, the Senate was set up so it would have a higher turnover ratio so it could there for be a more long term thinking group. The House has a high turnover, every 2 years, and is meant to capture the immediate emotion and feeling of the nation at that given time. These two bodies account for the short term and the long term. With a 12 and an 18 year limit, we still have that.

But we also gain the added benefit of no more career politicians. They would now have to have real skills in another field. We would most likely see an increase of teachers, doctors, farmers, welders, computer programmers, stay at home mothers, be more willing and able to enter the political ring.

The big, behind the scenes groups that use their money to keep politicians in power would be less likely to do so knowing their “candidate” won’t be around forever.  When a person knows their end is near they generally do one of two things: go out with a bang or a fizzle.

Knowing their time is at hand, the politician won’t have to spend so much time worrying about campaigning or raising money or passing laws that only benefit their voter base. It removes some of the burdens politicians face of constantly face. They can focus on actually being productive and not just cater to the masses.

And with the higher probability of newer members of Congress, we increase the likelihood of new, fresh ideas coming in and are less likely to face the political grid lock that happens when long time congresspeople circle the wagons and get into their petty feuds.

I welcome any comments on this possible solution. Am I too generous with my limit? Are limits a bad thing? Is there a different way you would want to limit Congress? This might be a small little blog, but someone might someday read something on here and make something happen

From the mouth of the Captain:

We sall have had enough

   Some thoughts on the Gay Rights movement:

 

  My guiding principle on this issue is three fold: 1) I believe fully in liberty and justice for all. Isn't being free to decide one's destiny the whole point of being an American? 2) I will let anybody do their thing, as long as it doesn...'t affect me and my thing. Giving people the right to marry whom they choose doesn't really affect me or my thing. So we're good. You start telling me I have to be gay in order to support gay people and then we will have a problem. And 3) I try my best to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who, does not condone homosexuality, but, he also does not condone my less obvious sins either. He said love everyone. and so, that is what I will do. I don't agree that being homosexual is by any means acceptable. But I also believe that no one should be barred from making their own decisions. Tomorrow I could be forbidden from owning guns or practicing my religion, I wouldn't like that one bit. So I cant be a hypocrite and tell others what they can or cannot do. I support peoples right to marry whom they choose.

   Recently, some people have decided that they hate Orson Scott Card. The author of Ender's Game, a novel that has touched many lives throughout the years and inspired many imaginations, including my own.
Mr. Card is LDS and is morally and religiously opposed to same-sex marriage. He has exercised his Rights to free speech and made his position clear. Others in the opposition to Mr. Card have simi...larly made their position clear. Using very hateful and ignorant language to attack Mr. Card for his intolerance. If you see the profound irony in the above scenario, you are an intelligent person. Here is a sample of some comments:
Ben Plunket writes:" jeebus effinf christmas, wake the eff up people, its not his views, its the fact that he funnels large sums of money into organizations that actively try to take away gays rights, not just on marriage... i hear hitler wrote poetry, own any of his writings? Why not? His works has nothing to do with his views amirite?"
this guy got 16 likes at the time

John Cameron McClain writes: "He's written publicly that he believes marriage equality would lead to the "end of civilization," which means he knows a lot less about reality than he does Science Fiction."
this guy had 245 likes

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Rocks My World writes: "To be honest, the not buying books from someone who believed such things has a point. If he was a passive person who is afraid of homosexuality because he's just one more ignorant then I understand... but if he uses the money he makes to promote his views against homosexuality... which are absolutely horrible, then perhaps I support those who would relinquish his writings in order to stand for what they believe in"
6 likes

I have a sweet idea. How about we let bygones be bygones? How about we all just let each other live their own lives while we live ours? If Cards ignorance and intolerance connects him with Hitler, let history judge him. Don't make yourself a jackass by calling somebody a jackass.

He is "spreading intolerance" Huh? then what is this thread trying to do? Are you not attempting to discriminate against him because of his views/beliefs? You say that you want equality and tolerance for everyone, yet you are intolerant of everyone who disagrees with you. And the cycle of hatred continues. you so-called "progressives" are just as bad, just as closed minded as the so-called "conservatives" you oppose. Both of you only possess half of the tolerance equation, yet you insist that you corner the market. This type of blind insanity will continue to lead America to its downfall. Until you can finally figure out that equality and tolerance is a two-way street, and that it is necessary to love even the ones who hate you, you will continue to be a ignorant person.

Concerning the Trayvon Martin Case:


A young man's life was lost. A grown man's life is ruined. Guilty or not guilty, the death of any person in so easily avoidable a circumstance is a tragedy. Tragedy is meant to unite us, not divide us. But now it will be politicized, and the American people will become more polarized as a result. Justice may or may not have been done, but there are no winners in the Trayvon Martin case...

 Rest in peace Trayvon. I'm sure you didn't intend for your death to inspire such hatred and violence in your countrymen. All of whom are brothers and sisters and should be acting like it...