Term Limits

                The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns term limits for all U.S. Senators and Congressmen. When the Constitution was written, there were no career politicians; there were only citizen legislators. Men would go to Washington, D.C. to serve their country for a few years and then go back to their homes and jobs while other men took their turn in government.

                Senator David Perdue, a Republican Senator from Georgia, is calling for term limits in both the Senate and House of Representatives. In his article titled “Washington Should Be More Concerned About the Next Generation Than the Next Election,” Perdue says, “Somebody has to be responsible for the mess in Washington. For too long, career politicians have focused more on advancing their own careers than helping the people they were elected to serve. The Washington bubble and an unending cycle of gridlock stand in the way of real results at a time when our country is facing both a national debt crisis and a global security crisis.

                “Now, more than ever, we should usher in the return of the citizen legislator. It is finally time that we impose term limits on members of Congress.”

                One of the most important reasons that term limits should be imposed is the fact that only 20 percent of Americans trust the federal government to fulfill its responsibilities. Another important reason for imposing term limits is the effect it would have on cronyism.

                Perdue states that 60 of the 100 current Senators “have been held elected office for more than 20 years and 36 have held office for more than 30 years.” The longer they are in office, the harder it is to vote them out. Alaska currently has a Republican Senator – Liza Murkowski – who is more liberal than most Democrats. I would love to see her lose this election, but I do not have high expectations.

                In addition to term limits, I would love to eliminate any permanent benefits of serving. Right now, any Senator that serves for six years gets a pension. I believe they should provide for their own retirement needs just like the rest of Americans.