Term Limits- an Idea whose Time has Come

Would-be and wanna-be constitutional “experts” will take issue with this, but the time for the imposition of term limits has come and, is most likely, long overdue. Not since the twenty-second amendment was enacted into law in 1951, has the United States Constitution addressed the issue of term limits, and this amendment only addressed the presidency, limiting a president to two four-year terms. Nothing has been done to limit the terms of U.S. senators, representatives or, for that matter, Supreme Court justices. Doing so would require constitutional amendments- and, given the seemingly addictive nature of holding congressional office, such action would most likely have to be initiated through state conventions- thirty-seven of them to be precise. After all, what self-respecting Congressman or Senator would ever support anything that would limit his/her tenure in office?

The “Whorehouse on the Hill” (a.k.a. the U.S. Capitol), whose members on both sides are … okay… we’ll call it what it is… bribed …by well-connected “johns” (a.k.a. lobbyists) to do their bidding, are merely plying their trade in the halls of the Capitol and in their own offices. That is the narcotic that keeps these political prostitutes from wanting to relinquish their office. As much as we would all love to believe this bunch is motivated purely by public service, only the naïve would truly believe this. As evidenced by their own recent rulings, it is not unthinkable that such malfeasance has even made its way into the sacred halls of the U.S. Supreme Court and, given its proximity to Capitol Hill, this is not surprising because any city’s red-light district always has more than one house of ill-fame located within its confines. Sorry to say, but the only real difference between this area of DC and the red-light district in any large city is the architecture.

So without further ado, let us put forth the following four points, as an idea for discussion and consideration:

House of Representatives – Members should be limited to three two-year terms and then ineligible for returning to the House for six years, thereafter.

Senate- Members should be limited to two six-year terms, and then ineligible for returning to the Senate for sixteen years, thereafter.

Supreme Court Justices- Members should be limited to a single twenty-year term, and then ineligible to return for life.

Lobbying of any elected/appointed official, where an exchange of money or financial benefit is involved, should be henceforth deemed illegal, and punishable by imprisonment of no less than ten years, for both the lobbyist AND the elected/appointed official.

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Such action would maintain the constitutionally-intended balance of power between the three branches of government, and would go far to clean up the cesspool that is our nation’s capital. Those aspiring to office would then be more likely to serve the nation’s interest, rather than lining the pockets of their pin-striped suits. Most importantly, we would be closer to that cherished idea of government of, by and for the people…

Any objections? …. Then write your congressman, as we are certain he/she will have plenty…much to our own chagrin and demise.

-Drew Nickell, 19 August 2015

© 2015 by Drew Nickell, all rights reserved