Should there be a term limit on congress? So that new blood and new ideas can be in congress?

Question

narrow it to 2 term per person and that way they will not have a career.
And even people who are not lawyers can be up there as well.

Answer 1

Yes, just as there is for the Presidency.

Answer 2

the new blood and new ideas are always pouring into congress, but the bureaucrats and lobbiests in the capital cause the problem. they are the ones that have the money and they want their way in order to back the congressman during his election. whether they have an unlimited number of terms they can serve or just a few the bureaucrats will still be there influencing the outcome of the elections with their campaign contributions. the electoral process has become so expensive today with on-air time, travel, and rallys that the one who spends the most almost always wins. with the major companies filling the capital with lobbiests and flaunting their money, most congressional hopefuls have no choice but to promise certain things to these power players, because without their money the candidate doesnt have a chance. as long as there are the PAC's (political action committee) and lobbiests then the congressman's voting will be influenced. the only way to really change this is to have someone who can afford to pay their whole campaig n themselves get elected, and then they are only one person. so we need a majority of these self reliant people to be elected, and after that happens then the promises to these big companies will not be there. but with the expense of running a campaign now and the amount of money they offer it wont happen, the candidates will continue to accept money and promise certain favors as compensation. it is a sad truth, but a truth none the less. so limiting terms might have a small effect on the situation, but in the long run not much is going to change.

Answer 3

That's why we have elections. Vote for new people if you like their ideas.

Not all politicians are lawyers, many are, but not all.

There also is value in experience. Some House Members will tell you it take there whole first term to get how Congress works figured out. There is value in having an understanding of the history of issues and a deep exposure to them.

Governing is hard work. There are serious issues that need serious attention. Cycling people through faster won't help address that. There is a reason that many people who have a serious impact on policy have been serving for a number of years. They know the issues and they know the system.

If you don't like your Representatives, don't vote for them. You have that power with or without term limits. You don't need artificial rules to do that for you.

Answer 4

If term limits are such a good idea, maybe we could make it mandatory for all jobs, give the new blood a chance to get in there.
Only America has such a silly idea.
If someone is good, vote for him, if not kick him out.
Without term limits you would not be in Iraq, and President Clinton.
If you have ever been near the end of a job, you know that you become a lame duck with no motivation to succeed.
Try Canada's way, your in there until they don't like you.
George Bush would have been out of there a long time ago.
One man running the country, no wonder you have problems

Answer 5

Mark Souder of Indiana promised he would limit himself to two terms in Congress. Of course, once he settled in to the 'cushiest' job in the world, with all its perks and benefits and lavish salaries and free trips, he decided to hunker down and remain in office. Politics is the only career where 'experience' becomes a liability instead of an asset. Yes, we need term limits on all elected officials. -RKO- 06/25/07

Answer 6

while its a nice idea i think encouraging young people to vote is more important. the current up and coming generation (labeled "y") is 5 times the size of its predessor x. generation x has proven to be a minor obstacle for politicians -- their voice was way too small.

i have often thought some sort of test should be placed on old people voting. when you have a bunch of senile voters at the polls you get governments like the one we have today. including 100 year old senators -- who are sometimes much smarter than their 50 year old counterparts.

Answer 7

I would agree with you're two term limit, providing each term was no longer than six months. The way our congress works, and due to their absolute corruption, one year would be plenty, and this would eliminate the jerks from being able to collect their enormous pensions.
Fact, the longer they're in, the more corrupt they become.

Answer 8

There is an election for senators every 6 years, and an election for representatives every 2 years. It's up to the American public to vote in the people that they feel will best represent them.

Answer 9

well, i agree with you. too many politicians make decisions based on getting themselves re-elected instead of just doing what's right. i know these people are supposed to be the voice of their constituents and vote accordingly... but, alot of times they listen to the wrong group. or listen to lobbyists.. and just because the majority thinks one way.. doesn't mean it's the correct path. that's why i think that our politicians in congress DO need to listen to the will of the people... BUT, i feel that they need to just use that as a tool and take it into consideration.. once they have all the fact-findings and public opinions.. THEN they should make THEIR decision. we aren't there. we don't know all that there is to know. and we won't. so, listening to just public opinion and trying to vote accordingly (*cough*, bill clinton), is not responsible... maybe if we had term limits for congress, then we'd have more politicians voting for what's right instead of voting in fear of backlash and not getting re-elected.

and yes, we have the power to remove those we don't want in office... but, here again.. if the wrong one's are in washington, but vote according to public opinion.. which MANY of them do on BOTH sides of the aisle.. then, how are we to remove them from office???? the only logical answer is term limits.

adding to that... there are waaaaay too many uneducated voters.. especially when it comes to voting for their senators and reps.. so, when they see names like kennedy, john duncan jr.. and so forth.. they just go with the names they recognize. the names that have been around for EVER. trust me, it happens.