Are term limits bad for us?

[Vanilluxe]

I've been hearing a lot of you want Washington to have term limits, but I see a problem with that. If there are term limits then there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage of the new legislators and dominate the passage of laws. I mean if there were term limits Ron Paul wouldn't be as effective and known to us if say he was termed out in 2004.

[Natural Citizen]

Here's an old discussion on it. It's an interesting question, for sure.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post3783344

You know, truth be told, Ron gets more done these days after his many years of service. He's no longer accountable to every single joker that comes along with a personal gripe. As it is, he can now focus on what he thinks is important and is why we have the luxury of works such as these... http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post5696825

Ron and his base are far more dangerous to the establishment now more than they ever were while he was in office. And they know it. Have faith in that.

[ghengis86]

I've been hearing a lot of you want Washington to have term limits, but I see a problem with that. If there are term limits then there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage of the new legislators and dominate the passage of laws. I mean if there were term limits Ron Paul wouldn't be as effective and known to us if say he was termed out in 2004.

How is your proposed scenario any different than how things operate now? Lobbyists and special interests take advantage of legislators and dominate the passage of law PRECISELY due to the old, lifetime legislators understanding exactly how the system works and are seasoned in corruption and graft.

[Danke]

I've been hearing a lot of you want Washington to have term limits, but I see a problem with that. If there are term limits then there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage of the new legislators and dominate the passage of laws. I mean if there were term limits Ron Paul wouldn't be as effective and known to us if say he was termed out in 2004.

"there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage"

I am besides myself. That is precisely what happens now. By making it a career, they get rich by bowing down and toeing the line.

"institutional knowledge" should come from the bureaucrats that advise the politicians. But the politicians should not be there long (as a career) to be influence in their decision making to prolong their careers.

[heavenlyboy34]

Here's an old discussion on it. It's an interesting question, for sure.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post3783344

You know, truth be told, Ron gets more done these days after his many years of service. He's no longer accountable to every single joker that comes along with a personal gripe. As it is, he can now focus on what he thinks is important and is why we have the luxury of works such as these... http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post5696825

Ron and his base are far more dangerous to the establishment now more than they ever were while he was in office. And they know it. Have faith in that.

Truth. RP was pretty much the lone voice of reason in congress, but he never got his pet issues pushed through legislatively (unless you count a partial FED audit a significant victory) and was-save a few times-the ONLY no vote on absurd and/or unconstitutional/illegal congressional actions.

[GunnyFreedom]

I used to believe that "elections were the term limits" until I ended up in office. After which I became a strong supporter of term limits.

[GunnyFreedom]

Truth. RP was pretty much the lone voice of reason in congress, but he never got his pet issues pushed through legislatively (unless you count a partial FED audit a significant victory) and was-save a few times-the ONLY no vote on absurd and/or unconstitutional/illegal congressional actions.

Aye, RP had all the seniority he needed. If seniority meant anything at all except to the establishment, then RP would have had a lot more oomph than he did.

[Ronin Truth]

Zero is a really helpful one.

[oyarde]

Term limits are good .

[nobody's_hero]

I've been hearing a lot of you want Washington to have term limits, but I see a problem with that. If there are term limits then there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage of the new legislators and dominate the passage of laws. I mean if there were term limits Ron Paul wouldn't be as effective and known to us if say he was termed out in 2004.

I've heard the argument before and I think it's rather weak. Senior legislators are even more prone to hearing what lobbyists want. Lobbyists specifically target senior legislators when they want goodies because they know senior legislators have the power of persuasion to get things through Congress.

We couldn't get rid of Saxby Chambliss in GA after he voted for the bailouts in 2008, because Republicans were scared to death of what GA might lose if Chambliss were bumped out in a primary race. The man gave $800 billion to the lobbyists you mention.

On the contrary, I wish Congress were full of idiots so inept at passing legislation that lobbying them would be a complete waste of time.

[nobody's_hero]

I've been hearing a lot of you want Washington to have term limits, but I see a problem with that. If there are term limits then there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage of the new legislators and dominate the passage of laws. I mean if there were term limits Ron Paul wouldn't be as effective and known to us if say he was termed out in 2004.

I've heard the argument before and I think it's rather weak. Senior legislators are even more prone to hearing what lobbyists want. Lobbyists specifically target senior legislators when they want goodies because they know senior legislators have the power of persuasion to get things through Congress.

We couldn't get rid of Saxby Chambliss in GA after he voted for the bailouts in 2008, because Republicans were scared to death of what GA might lose if Chambliss were bumped out in a primary race. We'd lose our seniority, they cried. The man gave $800 billion to the lobbyists you mention.

On the contrary, I wish Congress were full of idiots so inept at passing legislation that lobbying them would be a complete waste of time.

[Deborah K]

I see the tide is turning finally. I've always been for term limits. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ht=term+limits

[nobody's_hero]

Goodness all these duplicate posts lately.

[Ronin Truth]

I really like my "REELECT NO ONE" bumper sticker.

[Deborah K]

Goodness all these duplicate posts lately.

Well, mine is back from May.....

[William Tell]

I've been hearing a lot of you want Washington to have term limits, but I see a problem with that. If there are term limits then there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage of the new legislators and dominate the passage of laws. I mean if there were term limits Ron Paul wouldn't be as effective and known to us if say he was termed out in 2004.

Yeah, I oppose term limits at this point.

[Zippyjuan]

"there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage"

I am besides myself. That is precisely what happens now. By making it a career, they get rich by bowing down and toeing the line.

"institutional knowledge" should come from the bureaucrats that advise the politicians. But the politicians should not be there long (as a career) to be influence in their decision making to prolong their careers.

That would give the real power to the unelected career bureaucrats.

Term limits reduces your choices for who you get to vote for- good or bad.

[luctor-et-emergo]

Just considering some things here but I think I'll distill it as such:

Term limits in the short term do not help us, some of our best allies would be term limited and gone. I do think however that in the long run getting some of the longer sitting (sucking up to power) members would also be gone, increasing the number of unknown people going into congress. With more people running for office that are relatively unknown I'd expect at least a little bit of an interest in what they have to say. Even though the effects may be minimal I think a debate between yet unelected people always gives a better result at the polls than a debate between an already elected official and a challenger.

So yeah. I don't think term limits are a major issue to fight for but if the opportunity arises it's something to seriously consider.

[mosquitobite]

"there would be no senior legislator with institutional knowledge and lobbyists and special interest will take advantage"

I am besides myself. That is precisely what happens now. By making it a career, they get rich by bowing down and toeing the line.

"institutional knowledge" should come from the bureaucrats that advise the politicians. But the politicians should not be there long (as a career) to be influence in their decision making to prolong their careers.

Agree.

The problems with term limits have NOTHING TO DO with no "insider information" or power.

The problem with term limits, imo, is that we'd have too many lame ducks that vote for themselves on their way out, every 2 years. We think they don't give a $#@! about us now? Ha - with term limits they have even LESS reason to care!

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Throw the bums out! We need real change in Washington!

[Vanguard101]

Yes.

[Tod]

Term limits mean nothing except that the corrupt politicians will be changing faces more frequently.

It does not strike at the root of the problem, which is government itself. So long as there is government, it will continually grow and gain more and more power for itself by selling favors to the highest bidder.

We cannot.....repeat cannot......have a class of people who have more rights than other people and maintain freedom.

[Tywysog Cymru]

I like the idea of term limits, but I also want Amash, Massie, etc. to be around for a long time.

[Zippyjuan]

So only term limits on the guys you don't like, eh?

[phill4paul]

There should be no politicians. There should be citizen/statesmen. Those that care enough that they wish to serve. It should never be considered a life long job w/ the perks and retirement benefits that it has become.

[Voluntarist]

xxxxx

[Danke]

That would give the real power to the unelected career bureaucrats.

no it wouldn't.

Term limits reduces your choices for who you get to vote for- good or bad.

with an adult population pushing 200 million, I doubt that.

[oyarde]

I like the idea of term limits, but I also want Amash, Massie, etc. to be around for a long time.

They just run for higher office .

[oyarde]

So only term limits on the guys you don't like, eh?

Nope , everyone .

[oyarde]

As I said , term limits are good .