On Term Limits II

Term limits bring fairness to government

 

Too often, more "experience" in office means corruption. Limiting that would give the disenfranchised a greater voice in public policy.

 

…Who's in charge -- the people or politicians?

 

It's also about making sure that disenfranchised communities have a true voice in the political process -- a voice that represents their needs, not those of political donors and wealthy special interests.

 

Government in this country is built on the idea that authority belongs to individual citizens, which means that the people's business ought to always be conducted in the people's best interests.

 

That means when government contracts are being handed out, all qualified companies should have a fair chance at getting public business, not just companies that donate to the re-election campaigns of entrenched politicians or hold cocktail parties at expensive restaurants in their honor.

 

Sadly, that almost never happens these days.

 

In fact, it seems the longer politicians are in office, the more likely they are to rip us off for their own benefit -- rewarding the donors who funded their campaigns and the special interests who keep them in power rather than the people they should be serving.

 

Politicians like to brag about the value of their "experience," but in far too many governments, political "experience" is really another word for corruption.

 

That's why term limits are so popular -- and so effective.

 

Instead of counting on politicians to do the right thing, term limits force them to represent the people instead of advancing their own careers.

 

…It's also about bringing fresh ideas, new solutions, more competitive elections and more diverse representation to government -- and doing so in a way that affects all political parties equally.

 

But most important, it's about reminding career politicians that no matter how "experienced" or "important" they may think they are, no elected official's political aspirations will ever be more important than serving the greater good.

 

Howard Rich

Commercial Appeal, October 30, 2008