Why Term-Limits are Bad
and How to Make Good Ones.
Every year or so I read comments from people who think it is time for term limits. Sometimes they even sound sensible. Let me say, the idea of term-limits is GREAT. Unfortunately, how it works in real life…NOT SO HOT!
So, why would it not work? Consider this, when you go in for knee surgery do you want the doctor who recently decided to take up doing knee surgeries or the one with 10 years of experience performing successful knee surgeries? I know which one I would choose.
The biggest problem: If legislators, as a whole, have little personal experience because too many of them are new to the job, then WHO is running government? Wow! That is a good question!!! When you change the elected “leadership” too often, then the elected officials have to rely on the expertise of non-elected staff. Staff can stay on, and on, and on … far longer than the term-limited “leaders.” Eventually, THEY will be running the government, not those elected to do so. Some think they already do.
The second problem is much like the first, except what happens if the staff does NOT stay around to help? Another heady question. We saw this in Michigan immediately after term-limits were imposed. Every two years (Michigan term-limits for Representatives was only two 2-year terms, or 4 years maximum) a huge new crop of Representatives came to office … and made the same mistakes that the last crop made. There were not enough Representatives who knew the history of the House to stop the insanity.
The third problem is that, if the limits are stupidly short, the executive branch gets an automatic power bump. The executive branch, in my opinion, already has too much power. When the executive branch has too much power the opposition party is forced to be headstrong and stop everything they can. We need a cooperative government, not a infighting one.
Last, although it happens anyway to some degree, if you are term-limited then there is no urgency to make difficult decisions. Freaky short limits exacerbate this tendency to “kick the can down the road.” Difficult things don’t get solved … ever. “Not my problem!”
In Michigan we saw all 4 issues happen in within a short time after the law to severely limit terms passed. Stupid results were guaranteed, and are now hard-wired into that state system. Imagine doing it at a national level where elected officials handle banking, transportation, ethics and international issues. We would be insane to do that to ourselves. Plus, increasing the power of the President creates a King.
First, slow down! Michigan term-limits taught me that if the limits are ridiculously short (4 years as a Representative and 6 for a state Senator) then the executive branch gains power over the legislative. That is a real danger which many have not considered. If you want a KING, make all the legislators weak.
THE FIX: Let’s talk about total number of years as an elected official: There is nothing wrong with experience. We need wise, experienced people in all three branches of government. So, set the limit at a total of 40 years of elected (and/or, appointed) service. A judge should not be in that position for the next 60 years. A legislator shouldn’t either. 40 years and out. More importantly, make it a cumulative number. If you serve 14 years as a Representative and 24 as a Senator, then you cannot run for President because you only have 2 years remaining in your lifetime limit. If you are still capable, then get a job elsewhere. (Some would argue that 20 years is too long, but if there are going to be experienced leaders you need leaders with actual experience.)
Second, age is a factor. Presently, there is no upper age limit to serving in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of government. That should change. Almost everyone I have spoken with agrees: No 90-year-old should be serving in those positions. They should be retired. Going back to knee surgery … do you want the doctor who himself is in the prime of health or the one who has lost more than a few steps mentally and has trouble with tremors?
Therefore, no one should be allowed to begin a term which could not be completed before age 90.
In addition, there should be an entire annual battery of tests (mental, physical, and psychological) for anyone whose term will begin after the age of 75 conducted by an approved bank of doctors who are not working for a political party. Can the official handle the stresses and requirements of the job? The same rigorous testing should be done on anyone (think Fetterman) whose mental and/or physical capacities are in question before being sworn in. Can you uphold the Constitution if you can’t even say the word, define it, or remember it 2 minutes later?
Third, finances are also a factor. No elected official (or spouse) shall add to his/her accumulated wealth more than 2x their official salary per year of service. Money earned above that amount should be returned to the government. They should place ALL business and investments into a blind trust from the day they take office until the day their service ends. That is, they must place such things into a trust which they can neither have any control nor any communications. Their trustee must communicate only with a oversight commission which monitors the trustee’s activities. If you don’t like being so “poor” then stop running for office.
Similar limits should be set (with a few changes) for state governments.
= = = = =
Reminder: Look for the short, short story coming soon, “Fool of Dreams”
Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms, as I do, and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]
MORE OF DON’S GREAT GUEST POSTS:
~ BIAS? Not As Much… ~ Not On The Personality Scale ~ All Saints Day ~ Laws The U.S. Should Enact, II ~ Forgotten Lessons of COVID ~
~ Elephant Snot ~ A High-Value Man ~ Facial Expressions ~ Wind Chimes, pt III ~ Look For This Word ~ Fake! ~ MEAT ~ Know Your World ~
~ Theraping for Dollars ~ Self-Scan ~ Wind Chimes, part II ~ COOL! ~ Wind Chimes, part I ~ It Is Time To… ~
~ Courthouse Statue ~ The Effect of Crime On Small Business ~ Young Brains ~ Why We Miss ~ Helpful Pests ~
~ Giving Up Your Seat ~ Obedience ~ Good Mental Habits ~ Winning The Lottery ~ Why Sarcasm Does Not Translate ~
~ OOPS! That’s How I Write ~ The RE-COLONIZATION of America, pt. II ~ Laws The U.S. Should Enact ~
~ The Re-Colonization Of America, pt. I ~ How To Retire On Less ~ State Song ~
~ The “Holier Than Thou” Attitude of “The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf’” ~ THE TRUTH ~ H.A.L.T ~ Where’s The Clamor? ~
~ Parents Who Lie ~ Odd Places ~ Internet Is Fragile ~ Shopping ~ Student Loans ~ A Government ~
~ Going To Church ~ Anheuser-Busch ~ Hans Van Doorn ~ The Wrong Problem ~ Talking About Money ~
~ Trustworthy ~ A Life More Beautiful ~ TECH with ATTITUDE! ~ Black Drink ~
~ Public Schools III ~ Public Schools II ~ Public Schools I ~ 5-Star Reviews ~ Fractions Matter! ~ Small Spoons ~
~ Dumpster ~ Weird Forgiveness III ~ Weird Forgiveness II ~ Weird Forgiveness I ~
~ Classified Documents ~ Future You Needs A Friend ~ Feeling Understood ~ Starting The New Year Right ~
~ Awe! Aah! Ooh! ~ Christmas As A Poor (Rich) Child ~ Bigger Problems ~ Blessing ~ Climate Change – 2 ~
~ Medical Science Too Far? ~ Gravity and Light ~ Travel Fun ~ Fascinating People: Gloria Hartman Doughty ~
~ Sadly Magic Words ~ Mulberries ~ Climate Change? ~ ~ SPURIOUS UBIQUITOUS NOISE ~ TEW ~
~ Credit Card Debt ~ Insect Oddities ~ DATA ~ Cities Got Name? ~ The Bible Does Not Say That! ~ Too Old?? ~
~ Be My Guest ~ IN-CRE-MEN-TAL-ISM ~ Bad Friends & Broken Tools ~Pools Are For The Birds?? ~
~ Animals Hindering Your Financial Freedom ~ The Chicken ~ Finding The Exit ~ Allegheny Blackberries ~
~ Romantic Sunset At The Beach ~ Fun Facts About Carpenter Ants ~ Bad Habits ~ Doing Faith Wrong ~ Quirky! ~
~ Ten-Foot Trestle ~ Settling Estates ~ Living In High Horse Country ~ The Dying
Comments