Term limits for legislators

[Indy Texas]

Some background/context, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_limits_in_the_United_States

[Antonio the Sixth]

Yeah, there ought to be some term limits, though pretty loos. 20 years for the House and 30 for the Senate would be fine I guess.

[Franzl]

Oppose.

[Sopranos Republican]

Oppose.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Kind of a terrible idea.

If constituents continue to vote someone in, so be it. No need to get all hot and bothered about it because some Representatives serve a multiplicity of terms.

[wan]

oppose

[McGovern]

Oppose.

[TNF]

Horrible idea.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I'm not much for it.......

[Simfan34]

I support an age limit of 80 at election.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Oppose. It won't solve any problems.

[tmthforu94]

I think this forum and Capitol Hill are the only places you'd find such strong opposition to the idea.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I think this forum and Capitol Hill are the only places you'd find such strong opposition to the idea.

I know, and I really don't get it. People keep complaining that our presidents haven't really had gravitas lately... So let's give Senators and House Reps short terms? That makes no sense. How are American icons supposed to arise if there are term limits?

[Franzl]

I think this forum and Capitol Hill are the only places you'd find such strong opposition to the idea.

Interesting that the same people that support term limits often have no problem re-electing "their" representation multiple times.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I think this forum and Capitol Hill are the only places you'd find such strong opposition to the idea.

Interesting that the same people that support term limits often have no problem re-electing "their" representation multiple times.

Indeed.  They want term limits applying to other people's legislators.

[Benj]

Term limits are only useful when the limit is one term (though one two-year term is very short--but that's more a sign that the House of Representatives is too often reelected than anything else). Indeed, I would support a one-term limit for all offices.

However, either you create a citizen legislature with high turnover, or you abolish term limits. Limits of two terms, or other, longer limits, distort the political system in strictly negative ways.

[justfollowingtheelections]

I'm ok with no term limits if we get rid of seniority and all the privileges that come with it.  People are in many cases, in a way forced to vote for the same people over and over again because if they don't they will lose seniority and all the federal money that comes with it.

Also, please limit senate terms to 4 years rather than 6.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Horrible Idea.  We need folks with more experience in there.

[7,052,770]

Great idea.  Every Congressman is bought by special interests within a term or two.  Limit to 12 years at the most.

[morgieb]

Anyone should run for as long as they want. If they've been there too long then hopefully the people are smart enough to kick them out.

[Blackacre]

Oppose. If you want to get rid of your members of congress, you vote them out.

[© tweed]

within bourgeois democracy the only hope would be single-term limits for every office concurrent with a procedure for instant recall.

[Lumine]

Oppose. Most politicians are going to be corrupt anyway, and I prefer capable and popular corrupt politicians than several minor elected officers with no experience.

[Vosem]

People should be able to vote for whoever they want -- oppose.

[Lief 🗽]

Might as well just formally replace elected representatives with lobbyists. Same effect and much cheaper.