If you had term limits for Congress, then people in both parties would have more chance to vote in someone to represent them. I think of these states that have had the same Senator for 60 years (West Virginia)… how UN-represented I would feel as a Republican.

Term limits work in governships. Just look at Virginia. They seem to go back and forth between Democrat and Republican, meaning every four years you have a prayer of getting your guy/gal in. There is more idealogical balance.

Without term limits, incumbents win 98% of the races. It’s just reality.

You use a lot of words without understanding them and many of them represent judgments of value. What you value does not coincide in any way with those attributes I value such a honor and character because if they did have value to you, you wouldn’t support That One in any way form or fashion because he does not have them.

Stop clouding the issue with vague terms such as “good” and “exceptional” unless you are willing to actually define in concrete terms what you mean by those words. Anything less is as empty as That One’s rhetoric and does not form the basis for rational discussion.

Our system was not designed with the intent to have people serving a lifetime in elected office. Indeed, the issue of being good or bad doesn’t come into the equation because your good might not coincide with my good. These fossils who serve for decades on end are no longer our representatives but ersatz rulers.

Moreover, unless there is a definition of “good” that we can all live with, I’m afraid using that ambiguous term does us no good in determining whether an elected official could or even should should be allowed to serve for a lifetime or even a single term. Good resides in the eye of the beholder. Finally, I believe if they will not limit themselves to a few terms, then we should do it for them via a Constitutional Amendment.

I do believe in term limits but, like ziggy, I am sure we would lose some very good people in the process.

However, it seems to me that 12 years in the Senate and 9 (Pat’s idea) or 10 years in the house is a long time and a good person could do a lot before having to step aside.

George Washington didn’t want parties.
Here is a quote from his farewell address:

“I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discrimination’s. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.”

Furthermore,with our technological advancements, we no longer need Congress to meet in D.C. They can and should conduct their votes and other business from their home states. In turn, they would likely be more in tune to their constituencies. This, also, would give them less chance to be persuaded by outside interests that have proved problematic.

I’m not sure about term limits. It’s not working very well here in CA –people do learn more from experience and if they have to work for because they are leaving they have nothing at stake; no reason to compromise, etc

I voted for Nader this year (even though I was furious at everyone who did so in 2000) and I think I like some of his ideas: we need a viable third party and we need to TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!

Shorter campaigns, free tv and radio time, no perks. We won’t have real democracy until the $$ are taken out of our government and our politics.

We would also be compelled to get rid of those who turned out to be genuinely exceptional representatives,

Name one, troll. But if they’re one of your idols, they aren’t exceptional but pedestrian–like you. You’re just another example of the lowest common denominator who come to this blog under many aliases knowing full well that you’re not wanted but so inherently anal retentive and of such a control-freak nature that you feel compelled to force us to pay attention to your vapid opinions so you won’t feel so alone in your self-inflicted delusional state.

Go get yourself some treatment or get that bottle of Thunderbird and tie one on. Do anything but put us out of your misery, skippy.