The major problem glued into the fabric of political life in Washington affects our lives and not to the good.
This major problem helps build cronyism between long-term senators and representatives in Washington and the high-rolling power brokers in banking, insurance, health, and energy, to name a few..
The people can and need to put an end to this. And it will not require a law. It will require the resolve of the majority of voters.
Many citizens know that their questions and complaints often get little or no response from Washington. Their e-mails, letters, and phone calls are ignored. Words may say they are not ignored, but actions do not back up the words.
That is the case unless a voter has money or power in the private sector. It is all about connections.
The regular person holds power, however, but most do not use it: The Power of the Vote will work, if used every time there is a Congressional or Presidential election. The Power of the Vote will work if you and I do not vote for anyone if our vote will mean they will have a total of 12 years in Congress.
It's as simple as that, if we do it together. As long as American voters continue to allow the same people to return to Congress for a total of 15, 20, or 35 years without a break, the greater the likelihood of abuses of power by people in Congress.
Few in the U. S. Congress, regardless of what they say, have proven to be immune to the enticements of power and money connections, worked through powerful lobbyists. There may be 10-20 people in Congress who have resisted over the years, but no more, in my estimation.
Today, words can be used so smoothly and convincingly that the people are easily mislead about intentions of Congress. All we have to go on are words, and they have proven not to be enough.
We the people need to put tighter reins on Congress. The most effective reins are term-limits.
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a much-beloved president, died in his third successive term in office, 12 years, the Congress decided that in the best interests of the Republic of the U. S. the Presidency to no more than two successive terms, eight years.
However, Congress refused to impose similar term limits on themselves! They refused to pass the necessary legislation that would make it the law, as they did regarding the President's office.
This old and worn tradition lingers, although no one in Congress is indispensable. And yet most in Congress would have us believe they they are indispensable. They are wrong, and we should put an end to it, and we can.
We the people must stop enabling this assumption and start voting in a way that will impose term limits.
Congress has been "discussing" term limits off and on for decades. But we know that it will never come to pass. Congress is never going to put term limits on themselves.
Therefore, we need to help them and do it for them. I have decided that if my vote will send any person back to Congress for a term that will exceed 12 years, then I will not vote for that person. I will cross party lines (I'm a registered Independent) and vote for the new man or woman. They will have their chance at one term and then a second term, if in the Senate. They will have a chance, but not a guarantee, of no more than 6 terms, or 12 years, in the Congress.
This method should be tried, folks, for it will keep Congress more in tune with the will of the people. Any representative or Senator can run again after sitting out one term. There should be no prohibition on returns, except for those that do not earn the right to return, based on their performance for the people during their prior tenure.
Let's give it a try. Its one of many different things we need to do, as a people, to reclaim the power that is ours in writing, in words, in the first place.
Jane great commentary, I am taking it one step more. Anyone and all. They have all played a significant role in this fiasco. I will review their record and vote accordingly. Some I will need to wait until 201 but I will patiently. Here in Florida I know the records of my Senators and Congresswoman and I will vote accordingly regardless of their years of service. I would suggest to all they can check them out and see if their representatives votes are in agreement with their views.
Robert, I agree completely. All of us need to inform ourselves, and not rely on media reports, which are often distorted. Also, many votes are misleading in their language. A tack-on amendment may have caused a rep. to vote No to an otherwise good legislation, except for the amendment or port. We
will not give up. Thanks so much for reading the article and
commenting! Respond to this comment
» left by robert melaccio sr. (37 days 6 hours ago.)
Jane, as for the error, I understand that happens from time to time even to the very best. It is a given that when typing on a keyboard the error rate is high and typo errors quite common. Yes good point and people do not vote or abstain from voting for a bill when they are at odds over it. Yet in doing so they need to be very sure that is noted as to why and one also has to look at a pattern. What is voted on, what is not and what does that in of itself say about someone who claims to lead?
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
