As a concerned American public, why have we not demanded congressional term limits?

Question

I read in a report the other day, the American congress has a approval rating lower than that of the president. It stated that the president has an approval rating of over 20%. While this is not great, it is better than the congressional approval rating which was listed at 11%. 11%!!! Are these not the people who are supposed to act as a one of the checks and balances against the executive branch? If we don't approve of them, how can we expect them to keep the president in line? Now, I am not saying that this survey is 100% accurate, because no survey is, but it does shed some light on how the American people feel regarding our congress men and women. If they are so corrupt and out of favor with the American public, why are we not pushing for congressional term limits? This would end alot of the bickering and corruption in our government, because they could no longer use their positions as a platform for political power. How could one go about starting a movement to push this?

If you feel that congressional term limits would be a bad thing, please explain why in your reply and provide what you think would be a good route to travel when trying to rid our government of corruption.. Thanks!!!

Neniaf,

No I would not say that teachers or doctors should have job limits. This is apples and oranges, you cannot compare public and private sectors in the same light because different rules apply. Teachers and doctors do not make laws, therefore lack the incentive that senators have to become corrupt. You say that term limits keep us saddled with rookies. This is simply not true. Why couldn't the previous senator or representative be kept on for 1-2 years strictly in the advisory sense? Just as the president has a cabinet. If we can set a term limit for a president, we can surely do it for members of Congress. I am not arguing that terms be set at 2 years. I am only arguing that we set term limits period. You can be part of the solution or the problem and if I feel that you should at least have a better plan if you are going to criticize mine. Do you have any ideas that you think would help?

Answer 1

I agree I use to not think that was good but those days are long gone. I like Mitch McConnell he is my Senator from Kentucky. Even so I feel congress has become to corrupt and to many back door deals are going on. I do not think that they should only be allowed to serve 8 years, but like 10 years is long enough if they have not done anything by then they never will. So I am all in favor of term limits. Now, how are we going to get them to set their own term limits and cut themselves out of a job? We do need a whole new group up there this bunch like McCain, Pelosi, and so on need to be gone. It's time some real Americans began serving in congress. Most of the fools we have up there now are allowing this nation to fall apart and it is killing me to watch it. Of course we have to take some of the blame we keep sending the same ones back and not holding them to what they said they would do. When are we going to wise up and start demanding that they work on making us a great nation again? Something has got to be done but I don't know what that is, I wish I did know.

Answer 2

Would you suggest that a doctor couldn't hold a job for more than a few years, or that a teacher couldn't do that for more than a short time? Term limits keep us saddled with rookies who don't know what they are doing. Somehow we assume that our politicians should be able to step into some of the most complex jobs out there with no experience, and by the time they finally figure it out, we want to yank them out of office.

Answer 3

The Supreme Court has ruled that Term Limits are "unconstitutional".

Go figure.

Answer 4

only the people in power can change this, do you really think they would allow this to happen