Terms

[SmallTown]

How do you people feel about the current presidential term limit? 2 shots, 4 years a piece. Seems like the president goes into office, he has two agendas. One to do what he feels is right, the other to keep the popular support so he can be re-elected. I wonder how many decisions are made based on the hopes of re-election? After 2 years or so in office, a lot of attention is focused on the upcoming campaign.

I personally would like the president focused on doing his main duties, not having to worry about campaign issues.

I would like to see us change to a 1 shot, 6 year term. You get in, do your best for 6 years, then you're gone. This way they can focus on their job more and worry less about the next campaign.

 

[vraiblonde]

I wonder how many decisions are made based on the hopes of re-election?

My guess is...most of them. Not sure if one shot, 6 years is the right answer but this is a great issue for discussion. Unless nobody but you and me are interested in it.

 

[Frank]

How about the Congress? There's NO limit - but they spend most of the second half of their term focussed on re-election.

To change the terms, you'd need an amendment to the Constitution. Not easy.

But there is a MUCH simpler approach - shorten the election period. Find a faster, simpler way to thin out the field to the final candidates. Right now, the process takes officially about 10 months, and unofficially, about two years. In other nations, it's restricted to about six to eight *weeks*. Also, some kind of public funding and some requirements for radio and TV would be in order.

As long as LONG election cycles reward whoever gets out early, raises the most cash and so on - what you say will always occur.
The president will not stop campaigning - he just won't be doing it for himself.

 

[smcdem]

Hey I am intrested about the topic of term limits!! Did you all know that in every session of Congress Steny Hoyer introduces a bill to repeal the 25th admendment of the Constitution (Presidential term limits). I am opposed to term limits on senate and house members, but I'm not sure about Presidential term limits.

 

[vraiblonde]

I'd put term limits on all of them. Why not?

 

[smcdem]

This is a complex issue. I think Term Limits are bad because it takes away the will of the people. If the people love him/her then they will keep him/her! Obviously the issue of incumbency comes into play and things like that. My problem with term limits is that it "limits" the will of the voter.

 

[Heretic]

SMCDEM by that token even things like age requirements and citizenship requirements can take away the will of the voter.

I suggested 1 six year term for president a couple years ago.

Something that I think is wrong is the VP running for pres while in office. The VP should not be able to run for pres immediately folling a term of being in office. The reason being is that they can use their current position for influence in gathering money and personal gain. Civil Servants are not allowed to use their positions for political gain, its funny they are held to a much higher ethical standard than elected officials.

 

[demsformd]

I oppose term limits for senators and representatives because it takes the accumulation of seniority in order to become an effective legislator for one's constituency. I also believe in smcdem's articualtion of the issue.

I completely endorse term limits for presidents because doing so ensures that one does not hold power for as long as they want. When an executive holds power for extended periods of time despite the fact that they are elected, just as the aura of being a dictator to me.

 

[Ken King]

I think we have a pretty good system in place now. Why break it?

Every two years we have a chance to replace House members, every six years it is Senate members, and every four years it is the President. If the people of the states want others to represent them they will vote and that will be that, but if they want that same person back in there then they should be allowed that too.

Term limits for the President seems fairly useless, in 200+ years there has only been one President for longer than two terms.

Penn, tell us why he hung around so long, you were there, weren’t you?

 

[Ken King]

Originally posted by bluto
The will of the voters? They may have had will at one point, but anymore the voters are idiots. They only elect the same creep over and over again so that their district or state doesn't lose seniority and influence in the respective electoral body. If we periodically threw all the rascals out (staggered of course) that would no longer be an issue. Not only should they be thrown out, they should be exiled from DC, no crossing the street to join lobbying firms!!! I personally think we need a Philosopher King in the tradition of Alexander.

BTW, you know Bill would have won a third term! Voters are morons!

Can’t argue with your view of the idiot voters, we see the results of there efforts all the time, but they are out there voting. What about the idiot mass that sits at home and doesn’t vote at all? Those are the ones that need to change and get involved. They’re the ones hampering our ability to change, it isn’t the system.

I don’t think that anyone claims we are the brightest people in the world, but to let less than half of the eligible voters make the choice for all is something that I see as stupid.

BTW - Ronny would have had three terms too.

 

[MGKrebs]

OMIGOD

I agree with Ken.

I am curious about the parliamentary systems used (mostly) in Europe, though. I don't know enough about how it works, but it seems the "leader" (PM or whoever) has to maintain a coalition to stay in power. The parliament can force a new vote if he (or she) pisses off too many of them. Don't know if this is better or worse, but I think I'll look into it a little bit..

 

[SmallTown]

My reason for the 1 six year term for president has nothing to do with feeling like a dictator or showing the will of the people. For me, it would allow the president to focus on the job at hand, and not worry about how his decisions could impact his re-election campaign. So even shortening the time for running for office wouldn't really solve that problem.

Of course, on the other hand, people would argue that the current system is best because having them think about re-election with their decisions would make the president follow more closely to what the people want.

 

[Frank]

A comment on the persons who DON'T vote ---

PLEASE, let them stay at home! If they don't want to vote, I sure don't want my nation's future decided by people who don't give a crap. In Australia - they actually FINE you, if you don't vote. So you get several million people there casting votes for people they don't have a clue about. No way, not here.

 

[Ken King]

Originally posted by Frank
A comment on the persons who DON'T vote ---

PLEASE, let them stay at home! If they don't want to vote, I sure don't want my nation's future decided by people who don't give a crap. In Australia - they actually FINE you, if you don't vote. So you get several million people there casting votes for people they don't have a clue about. No way, not here.

No, get them out there. Every time the elections roll around I find a couple of registered people that don't vote and I can usually find a topic that gets their interest peaked or I guess you could say that I badger them until they just can't take it anymore

There will always be some that just don't care but I have found it is many that think their vote doesn't count so why bother. A close election or two and some of these begin to see the light.

 

[SmallTown]

Originally posted by Ken King
No, get them out there. Every time the elections roll around I find a couple of registered people that don't vote and I can usually find a topic that gets their interest peaked or I guess you could say that I badger them until they just can't take it anymore

There will always be some that just don't care but I have found it is many that think their vote doesn't count so why bother. A close election or two and some of these begin to see the light.

Yea really. I bet the dems in florida will have record turn outs in 2004.

 

[vraiblonde]

Apparently a bunch of Maryland counties had record turnouts for Ehrlich.

I'd actually like to see the President do a longer term than 4 years. That's just not enough time to show 'em what you got - enact legislature, revamp domestic programs, kick some dictator's butt, etc. The main reason a President can't get anything done is because of an obstructionist Congress who wants to stall and filibuster and carry on instead of actually do some work. Partisan politics is a BIG problem in this country.