Term Limit Limitations
July 14, 2009 3:41 PM
The idea of enacting term limits on our Congressional representatives attracts the support of many voters. The Supreme Court dashed voters' hopes of enacting this legislation at the state level in 1995 when they upheld the Arkansas Supreme Court's ruling that the legislation violated the U.S. Constitution. It has been suggested, however, that the Supreme Court would decide differently if the legislation were passed at the federal level. This means that the incumbent, career politicians voters willfully re-elect would have to vote themselves out of office by establishing term limits. If that seems unlikely, you're right. Despite efforts to make term limits law, it hasn't happened.
VOID takes no official position on the issue of term limits; taking such a position does not serve the Mission of VOID. Personally, I do not support term limits. I believe voters have a duty to elect responsible representatives. By enacting term limits, I believe voters are choosing to abdicate that responsibility. In regards to irresponsible incumbents, term limits effectively neutralize career politicians; however that is something voters already have the power to do. In regards to responsible incumbents, term limits serve to eliminate the power of voters to reelect those who are serving them well. Term limits, therefore, fill a need that does not exist and remove power voters have the right to use.
Voters already have all the power they need to force irresponsible incumbents out of office. If enough voters vote for the challenger, whether that occurs during the primaries or during the election itself, the incumbent is forced out of office. This can happen. Voters have the responsibility to make it happen when they are being poorly represented. If voters accepted and embraced this responsibility, then term limits would be completely unnecessary.
When voters are being effectively and responsibly represented, they have the right to retain their representative through re-election, assuming the candidate wishes to continue in office. Term limits deny them this right. While some consider it a worth-while sacrifice in order to limit the careers of irresponsible representatives, I disagree. Our right to vote is precious and should not be squandered away after a prize we already have.
The crux of my position however is this:
1. Without responsible voting, term limits will never happen because irresponsible incumbents will not willfully choose to limit their own careers.
2. With responsible voting, term limits become unnecessary and counterproductive because responsible incumbents are truly representing their constituents.
Voters have the power to remove irresponsible representatives and to elect responsible representatives in their place. Voters need to exercise that power in order to meet the goal of limiting the careers of irresponsible incumbents, not abdicate their responsibility in the form of legislation that limits their powers to elect representatives that serve their needs.
- 2008 Elections
- 2008 VOID Election
- 2010 Elections
- 2012 Elections
- About VOID
- Anti-incumbent News
- Ethics and Corruption
- Minutes Board Meetings
- President's Corner
- Publicity Samples
- Staff Editorials
- Supporters
- VOID About
- VOID Activities
- VOID Election Result
- VOID History - Future
- VOID Mail
- VOID Membership
- VOID Rationale
- Weekly Newsletter
- WhatDoYaThink
Enter Comment or Scroll Down To Read 3 Comments
3 Comments
Acknowledgments
This web site and its
contents are licensed under
a Creative Commons License
and copyright protected.
4:19 PM, 08 01 2009 | Permalink
You hit the nail on the head. There is an order to things when pursuing a course of action. Putting the cart before the horse won't reach the destination. Voting out incumbents is the means to achieving term limits.
Reply to this comment
Sbolton replied to David R. Remer at :
12:06 AM, 08 09 2009 | Permalink
However, right now some who voted responsibly are reaping the repercussions of many who voted irresponsibly, and have done so for many years! Where is the fairness for these responsible voters?
Sbolton replied to David R. Remer | August 9, 2009 12:06 AM
Reply to this comment
Stephanie Crist replied to Sbolton at :
2:13 AM, 08 09 2009 | Permalink
We live in a democratic republic, which means all voters get a say in who is voted into office. That's why reaching out to fellow voters is so important. One responsible voter cannot do the job hundreds of irresponsible voters should do. One responsible advocate can, however, influence the actions of hundreds of fellow voters.
Term limits seems like a viable solution for irresponsible voting, however there is no likely method in contemporary America to make it a reality while incumbents are continually reelected.
Stephanie Crist replied to Sbolton | August 9, 2009 2:13 AM
Reply to this comment