[CRoss]

GOP senators push for term limits

Currently, there are no term limits for federal lawmakers, but Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, and several of his colleagues are advocating that service in the Senate be limited to 12 years, while lawmakers would only be allowed to serve six years in the House.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/11/congress.term.limits/index.html


I cannot see any major disadvantages to term limits.

 

[kidwoo]

I cannot see any major disadvantages to term limits.

Focusing on campaigns more than service?

Not like that doesn't happen now but it literally could be worse. *shudder*

 

[dante]

It's hilarious that they're pushing for it NOW when they're in the distinct minority and have more seats to defend in 2010 than the Democrats. Didn't see this surface back in 2004 when they had majorities in the House and the Senate and Rove was talking about his permanent Republican majority...

 

[stoney]

Either way, it still is the type of legislation that needs to be passed. End career politicians

 

[sanjuro]

Ted Kennedy is rolling in his grave.

 

[CRoss]

Either way, it still is the type of legislation that needs to be passed. End career politicians

Exactly. Of course they will be worried about elections. They might have to work harder and gasp, be a little more true to their word.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Exactly. Of course they will be worried about elections. They might have to work harder and gasp, be a little more true to their word.

You guys realize that "no term limits" isn't the same thing as "lifetime appointment" right? They have to run for re-election every time the way it is now.

So my question is..why wouldn't they in fact be less-accountable their final term because being re-elected isnt a possibility? Doesnt that pave the path to recklessness? Wanting to be re-elected forces people to do a good job.

And I also dont have an issue with "career politicians". If they are good at what they do, why should we kick them out? Nobody complains about career doctors, or career teachers.

 

[stoney]

Doctors and teachers product tangible products: education and medicine.
What do politicians produce?

 

[BurlyShirley]

Doctors and teachers product tangible products: education and medicine.
What do politicians produce?

Is that a serious question?

 

[dante]

People almost never have an issue with *their* elected representatives, they only have problems with *other* people's. If you have a problem with your elected representative, you work to get them defeated the next time they run for office. When you have a problem with someone else's representative, you whine about term limits.

 

[Silver]

Either way, it still is the type of legislation that needs to be passed. End career politicians

I love to get rid of Ron Paul, myself...

 

[splat]

It's hilarious that they're pushing for it NOW when they're in the distinct minority and have more seats to defend in 2010 than the Democrats. Didn't see this surface back in 2004 when they had majorities in the House and the Senate and Rove was talking about his permanent Republican majority...

Actually if you read the article

That measure, which would have allowed both senators and members of the House to serve just 12 years, won a majority in the Republican-controlled House in 1995, but failed because it did not meet the constitutionally-required two-thirds threshold.

 

[kidwoo]

Doctors and teachers product tangible products: education and medicine.
What do politicians produce?

Aw come on.

Here's some homework.

and this from a friggin market trader

 

[CRoss]

If term limits are not a problem then lets just get rid of term limits for all government offices.

Term limits could let some new blood with new ideas have a chance of getting to a position of being heard. It might also help break us out of this two party system we are stuck in. How many times do you hear about someone voting for the best of the worst? How many people actually vote for a name for senate vs just looking for Republican or Democrat after the persons name?

 

[CRoss]

Here is a long essay about the subject from back in 1995 when this was voted on last.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-221.html

 

[dante]

It's hilarious that they're pushing for it NOW when they're in the distinct minority and have more seats to defend in 2010 than the Democrats. Didn't see this surface back in 2004 when they had majorities in the House and the Senate and Rove was talking about his permanent Republican majority...

Actually if you read the article

That measure, which would have allowed both senators and members of the House to serve just 12 years, won a majority in the Republican-controlled House in 1995, but failed because it did not meet the constitutionally-required two-thirds threshold.

In 1994 Newt campaigned heavily on term limits through the Contract with America... Rove and the "permanent Republican majority"? Eh, not so much.

 

[blue]

and this from a friggin market trader

must spread rep yadda yadda.

 

[stoney]

Aw come on.

Here's some homework.

and this from a friggin market trader

That's a how it works, not what they produce.

Trading does produce something. It brings together separate parties, neither of whom want to reveal the size of their investments to make a match on buying and selling. The trader takes a small fee for finding the match $.01-$.03 per share. IF one person is selling 250k shares and there is no counter party, that individual would risk exposing their position to the masses to find buyers. The trader will find the necessary individuals to make the trade immediately, or take on the risk of the position short term by buying it and selling it when there is a market.

remind me what service politicians provide?

 

[narlus]

so traders hide the size of others' packages?

 

[kidwoo]

I knew there would come a day when the joker would take all the not exactly diminutive amount of energy put into hairdos and redirect it towards another religion.


that day has come

 

[dan-o]

Commission sales are a helluva drug.

 

[dante]

That's a how it works, not what they produce.

Trading does produce something. It brings together separate parties, neither of whom want to reveal the size of their investments to make a match on buying and selling. The trader takes a small fee for finding the match $.01-$.03 per share. IF one person is selling 250k shares and there is no counter party, that individual would risk exposing their position to the masses to find buyers. The trader will find the necessary individuals to make the trade immediately, or take on the risk of the position short term by buying it and selling it when there is a market.

remind me what service politicians provide?

My local politicians have provided me with repaved roads, bike lanes, traffic safety, police/firemen to keep my life and house safe, schools, and a kick-ass 4th of July beer festival.

On a more macro level, our nations politicians ensure budgeting for national defense, interstate highways, social security, medicare, medicaid, national parks, and keeping marriage sacred...

But yes, those all pale in comparison to connecting one person who is shorting imaginary shares of stock with another person who is willing to buy those imaginary shares of stock.

 

[profro]

On a more macro level, our nations politicians ensure budgeting for national defense, interstate highways, social security, medicare, medicaid, national parks, and keeping marriage sacred...

Are you being serious?

 

[stevew]

My local politicians have provided me with repaved roads, bike lanes, traffic safety, police/firemen to keep my life and house safe, schools, and a kick-ass 4th of July beer festival.

don't we provide them with the money to do that or do they just pull it out of their ass?

 

[dante]

Am I happy with the budget that they come up with? No. Am I cognizant that every year they get together and hash out a budget to ensure that government employees and contractors get paid and that those entitlement programs that were voted into law are funded? Yup. You may not agree with what they've come up with, but you are aware that they do do it, right?

don't we provide them with the money to do that or do they just pull it out of their ass?

Aaaaand who exactly would you be providing the money to? Directly to local contractors and engineering firms? Everybody in the town gets together in an old Republic-style forum and makes group decisions? Nobody to oversee those decisions, of course, since that would actually be a form of "government".

 

[kidwoo]

And just to think, it all starts with this little guy.

 

[stevew]

Aaaaand who exactly would you be providing the money to?

single moms and liquor stores.

may not be safe for work

 

[stoney]

I do belive the word IS nsfw.