Instead of Term Limits, we should be able to FIRE them

[Deborah K]

I really don't like the idea of term limits. I read this about Florida:


Incumbents are increasingly faced with little or no opposition. Possible opponents are waiting for open seats, creating years of non-competitive elections, depressing turnout and reshaping the elections into a rotational rather than an adversarial system.

I think a better alternative is to be able to fire them when they don't adhere to the Constitution.

This really needs to be thoroughly examined and debated before it is ever implemented.

[idiom]

Its one way to get that annoying Ron Paul out of Congress.

[euphemia]

I also wish our ballots had an option for "none of the above," which would count as a vote for nobody. If a candidate doesn't get a majority of votes cast, s/he can't win. This would be a good way to diffuse major party power if we weren't forced to make a choice between someone we don't like or not voting at all.

[satchelmcqueen]

a recall is a thing we can use right?

[Deborah K]

a recall is a thing we can use right?

No. From what I understand you can't recall a Senator or a Congressman.

[fedup100]

There is a way to fire them now. They are committing treason at every turn, we need to get a grand jury indictment and have them arrested.

[LibertyEagle]

The 17th amendment needs to be repealed.

Our founders intended that U.S. Senators be chosen by state legislatures to represent the states in Congress. Likewise, the state legislatures were able to repeal them if said Senators were not doing what the states wanted them to do.

[Original_Intent]

We need to find a way to force the three branches to actually provide checks and balances on each other instead of combining against the American people to line their own pockets. I wonder which way the military would go if it became a matter of Consitution vs Commander in Chief...

[Original_Intent]

The 17th amendment needs to be repealed.

Our founders intended that U.S. Senators be chosen by state legislatures to represent the states in Congress. Likewise, the state legislatures were able to repeal them if said Senators were not doing what the states wanted them to do.

Yep, "the people" really got suckered into ever supporting this, I doubt we will ever get people educated to the point of repealing it.

[Deborah K]

I really think there needs to be a debate about term limits. Too many people think that is the answer when it isn't. It will make matters worse.

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

There is a way to fire them now. It happens every two years for House Reps and every six years for Senators. It is called an election. Unfortunately, the beast-like Sheeple are the ones who choose to re-hire terrible incumbents time and time again. Nothing else will help this situation until the average voter stops being so gullible.

[Deborah K]

There is a way to fire them now. It happens every two years for House Reps and every six years for Senators. It is called an election. Unfortunately, the beast-like Sheeple are the ones who choose to re-hire terrible incumbents time and time again. Nothing else will help this situation until the average voter stops being so gullible.

For me, the problem is that if someone gets into office, introduces and votes on legislation that subverts the Constitution - I don't wanna wait until the next election to vote them out! A person like that can do a lot of damage in a short period of time. Look at Obama. Term limits doesn't address this either. The answer is to be able to hold them accountable immediately, like you would any other employee.

[Deborah K]

bump

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

First McCain-Feingold needs to be ruled unConstitutional. Second, the 17th Amendment needs to be repealed. After that, it will be a little easier to get a handle on things. No need for Term Limits as thats a pointless and ridiculous excercise that will make matters worse.

[nobody's_hero]

I think Georgia has a law on the books that allows for recalling senators.

It varies from state-to-state whether or not it is possible.

I think that the next neo-con sponsored tea-party I go to, I'm gonna have my "Recall Chambliss" sign in-hand. :D

Ehow.com, lol (http://www.ehow.com/how_2096900_recall-us-senator.html)

From the National Conference of State Legislatures: (http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/recallprovision.htm)

Georgia: act of malfeasance or misconduct while in office; violation of oath of office; failure to perform duties prescribed by law; willfully misused, converted, or misappropriated, without authority, public property or public funds entrusted to or associated with the elective office to which the official has been elected or appointed. Discretionary performance of a lawful act or a prescribed duty shall not constitute a ground for recall of an elected public official. (Ga. Code §21-4-3(7) and 21-4-4(c))

I think Chambliss and Isakson qualify for what I bolded, hands down.

[Minlawc]

The 17th amendment needs to be repealed.

Our founders intended that U.S. Senators be chosen by state legislatures to represent the states in Congress. Likewise, the state legislatures were able to repeal them if said Senators were not doing what the states wanted them to do.

But... but... that's undemocratic isn't it?! :rolleyes: You can't argue with this logic.

[angelatc]

I really don't like the idea of term limits. I read this about Florida:



I think a better alternative is to be able to fire them when they don't adhere to the Constitution.

This really needs to be thoroughly examined and debated before it is ever implemented.

If we repealed the 17th Amendment, the State Legislatures could recall the Senators.

[euphemia]

The 17th amendment needs to be repealed.

Our founders intended that U.S. Senators be chosen by state legislatures to represent the states in Congress. Likewise, the state legislatures were able to repeal them if said Senators were not doing what the states wanted them to do.


Like we could get our state legislature to follow the will of the people.:rolleyes:

[ItsTime]

Forget repealing the 17th, how about passing a law saying we the people can recall?

[Deborah K]

I trust my state legislature about as far as I can spit! I'd like to see the people be allowed to re-call their elected officials through a referendum. NOT for any old reason - but for the purpose of forcing our elected officials to comply with the Constitution under threat of dismissal should they subvert it.

[TastyWheat]

I don't like term limits either, that's why I think old incumbents (3rd term or whatever) should have a handicap in order to reduce the inherent incumbent advantage.

Challenged incumbents usually get close to 60% of the vote. If you make it a requirement that they get 60% of the vote on the first ballot then I guarantee we'll see more turnover but give the good ones a chance to stay in office. The actual percentage is up for debate, but it shouldn't stray below 57% based on my research [of typical margin-of-victory for incumbents].

I don't expect any more interest than usual in my idea, but I'm happy to expand on it.

[Kraig]

I trust my state legislature about as far as I can spit! I'd like to see the people be allowed to re-call their elected officials through a referendum. NOT for any old reason - but for the purpose of forcing our elected officials to comply with the Constitution under threat of dismissal should they subvert it.

Who? What people? If you leave it to democracy, you will see more people like Ron Paul getting "fired" because they aren't socialist enough than you will see people being fired because they are corrupt. Democracy fails at every turn, we have far too much of it already. If we are going to keep this system of government, giving state legislatures the power to do this makes the most sense to me.

[Deborah K]

Who? What people? If you leave it to democracy, you will see more people like Ron Paul getting "fired" because they aren't socialist enough than you will see people being fired because they are corrupt. Democracy fails at every turn, we have far too much of it already. If we are going to keep this system of government, giving state legislatures the power to do this makes the most sense to me.


Politicians - elected and appointed officials. Putting it up to a referendum isn't all that different than the re-call process we have for Governors. I agree with you about democracy, but the fact is, we use a democratic process to elect our officials and to vote for initiatives. I don't think it could get to the point you think it could if we just fire those politicians who don't adhere to the Constitition. It's cut and dried. Adhere to it or risk losing your seat.

[Deborah K]

I don't like term limits either, that's why I think old incumbents (3rd term or whatever) should have a handicap in order to reduce the inherent incumbent advantage.

Challenged incumbents usually get close to 60% of the vote. If you make it a requirement that they get 60% of the vote on the first ballot then I guarantee we'll see more turnover but give the good ones a chance to stay in office. The actual percentage is up for debate, but it shouldn't stray below 57% based on my research [of typical margin-of-victory for incumbents].

I don't expect any more interest than usual in my idea, but I'm happy to expand on it.

How could you make it a requirement? I don't get that.

[RSLudlum]

The 17th amendment needs to be repealed.

Our founders intended that U.S. Senators be chosen by state legislatures to represent the states in Congress. Likewise, the state legislatures were able to repeal them if said Senators were not doing what the states wanted them to do.

Woot Woot for 1913!!!


:rolleyes:

[LibertyEagle]

Like we could get our state legislature to follow the will of the people.:rolleyes:

Maybe not. But, we sure as heck stand a better chance of that than thinking we're going to do same at the FEDERAL level. Right?

Maybe we should try.

[Deborah K]

Maybe not. But, we sure as heck stand a better chance of that than thinking we're going to do same at the FEDERAL level. Right?

Maybe we should try.

Why did they change it in the first place? Do you know?

[LibertyEagle]

Why did they change it in the first place? Do you know?

Why did TPTB want it changed, or why did people buy it? The former is because it further diluted states' rights and the latter, because We the People have become dumbasses who don't understand the difference between a democracy and a republic.

[TastyWheat]

How could you make it a requirement? I don't get that.
If you mean how could it be made law, then the best way would be for Congress to declare that term limitations are at the discretion of the States.