I have this question. It comes from the most popular answer to hillbilly's post. Folks would like to go back and implement term limits. I happen to agree with term limits but on a universal scale, ie across the board nationally not individual states.
However, didn't our founding fathers really did implement term limits by not having a government job being a high paying job and/or limit what government was suppose to have power to do? After all, our government was to be limited and well defined and in turn, not have that much control over our lives. Way back then for well over a hundred years, government never got bigger than 2 or 3% of our nation's GDP. Today, it's above 25% and spending 3.7 trillion dollars. That's a hole lot of power to throw around and no wonder your elective representative wants to remain in power.
Furthermore, how do you really feel when politicians talk about going to work serving the public? My question is really? Are you really serving us or yourself? Is it really a public servant job or is it just a fricking job you go to everyday to pick up a fat paycheck? Hillbilly's thread has really got me questioning the whole notion of public service. Our armed forces do public service. Most police officers do public service. Do our politicians really perform a public service considering the amount they get paid?
Want term limits? Let's go for cutting the house and senate compensation back to the average salary in America, 42K. Let's end lifetime pension just because you get elected. Let's pull all the perks. Then we shall see just how many really want to be there for more than 1 term.
Thoughts? That thread has really gotten me thinking and more pissed off than ever. I'm so sick of folks in Washington. To quote Rumsfield "Washington, 60 square miles surrounded by reality".
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
i agree that term limits should be nationwide. Here in OK we have term limits but; and it's a big but, the limit is 12 years. It just so happens that an OK legislator can draw his fat pension after 12 years.
The founding fathers never intended for a politician to serve 20-50 years in congress.
We really do need to start hitting our national politicians on term limits, their wonderful retirement plan and their bloated staffs. There are nearly 25,000 employees at the beck and call of congress. Congressmen in the 40s and 50s did very well with much smaller staffs.
Once a person is elected to congress he/she is set for life. The re-election rate is about 90 percent. The money just keeps on coming in and the congressman can use that money for nearly anything he wants to without fear of being seriously chastised.
If the congress critter breaks congressional "rules" or federal laws the worst punishment that his peers will put on him is a slap on the wrist. Example-Rangel.
BTW: It ain't about public service. It's about fame, fortune and furthering the personal and party agendas.
Exactly falcon. The big question is, can you really call them public servants when their pay and bennies far exceed most in the private sector? That's a big part of the debate going on in MI regarding teachers.
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
Exactly falcon. The big question is, can you really call them public servants when their pay and bennies far exceed most in the private sector?
You cannot call members of congress public servants. Their pay, retirement plan and healthcare plan are so much better than that of the average US citizen. Congress has voted themselves perks that are far and above anything the rest of us ever dreamed of.
i will write to every member of the OK congressional delegation on these issues. Pretty much know what answers i'll get. Something about the money attracting good candidates with a zeal for public service.
BTW: All the congress critters have access to the VIP suites at Walter Reed Army Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital. i spent a career in the US Army and could not get into either of those hospitals.
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That's a big part of the debate going on in MI regarding teachers.
Teachers in MI and some other states have been totally spoiled.
BTW: All the congress critters have access to the VIP suites at Walter Reed Army Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital. i spent a career in the US Army and could not get into either of those hospitals.
Sorry but I'm going off on a tangent. I did 2 stints at Bethesda Naval Hospital. I remember late at night racing my wheel chair down the long hallways and ramps. What a nut I was. Its a good thing I never wrecked it. I was also on the top floor just below the Presidental suite at the same time Reagan was there. My room was just across the hall from the terrace he was to go out and enjoy the sunlight for about an hour. SS all over the place. They were in suits but I never saw a single gun and I looked. Metal dectors to get to my room. I was also told to remain in my room while Reagan came down to relax in the sun. What does a young stud do for a few hours locked in his room? Invite one of my girlfriends down for so fun RR. I remeber after a few hours nervously opening the door to see if we could come out yet. I was waiting to be tackled. In the end, Reagan feel asleep and they had to repeat the entire sweep and process the very next day. Funny, I repeated it as well.
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
Sorry but I'm going off on a tangent. I did 2 stints at Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Neat.
i did a long stint in Walter Reed in late 69 and 70. No one ever talks about what H. Ross Perot did for the wounded troops at Bethesda and Walter Reed. Perot bought the very best furniture, games, and TVs for all the day rooms at Walter Reed. Perot's yacht was berthed on the eastern shore of MD for the use of wounded troops from both hospitals. Perot furnished everything for the troops fishing cruises.
i was the only person in the ward on Christmas eve and New Years eve. Both evenings i got invited to party with the doctors and nurses of the psycho wards. Parties were held in an empty nut ward.
Wow, that's the stuff I like to find out. I'm currently reading Rumsfeld's book. I think you would find it very interesting. It began with the Beirut mess. Rumsfeld was in the middle of all that and gives a great perspective behind the scenes.
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
You both make some good points. I've heard or read somewhere that actually every federal legislator that's been around a while has actually voted for term limits. The problem is that they all voted for them at different times....attached to different losing bills.....so that they would all be able to say "yeah I'm for it....voted for it" without anything ever being accomplished (and wouldn't THAT be exactly what you come to expect). Is that true??? Like you guys, I think it is also assinine that these federal elected BS artists would EVER receive any type of pension or be compensated in any way beyond something mediocre.
But what would it take to change things?? How do you get the rats to leave the cheese factory??
I was thinking of perhaps a hugely popular and conservative (is that possible???...lol) chief executive that would address this particular issue with the american public and ask that these things be reversed....A Ronald Reagan type of televised appeal to the people.
But, in reality, I'm not sure it can be done....it's nice to dream though
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Looney tunes deductive reasoning:
--Me smell Mohican burning
--Me last Mohican
--Must be me!!!
--EEEOOOWWW!!!!!
How do you get the rats to leave the cheese factory??
The easiest way is to just vote the rats out. Problem is that everyone wants to reform congress but they still vote for their old rats. This last election was a step in the right direction. i hope that many more reformers are elected to congress in the coming years.
Term limits?
