Political Discussion

The Bob from Florida solution for federal offices is a single 6 year term with no re- election possible. House, Senate, and Presidency - all single term. House and Senate up for elections every 2 years generating 1/3 turnover each election cycle. No one gets to make a career and since re- election is not allowed, they get to concentrate on the job and go back to private life when done. The most anyone could stay in power would be 18 years - if they won a house seat, a senate seat, and became president. Force turnover instead of senile old men wielding power. Of course it would require a constitutional convention to accomplish this or the solution in "Mars Attacks".
 
Bob from Florida said:
The Bob from Florida solution for federal offices is a single 6 year term with no re- election possible. House, Senate, and Presidency - all single term. House and Senate up for elections every 2 years generating 1/3 turnover each election cycle. No one gets to make a career and since re- election is not allowed, they get to concentrate on the job and go back to private life when done. The most anyone could stay in power would be 18 years - if they won a house seat, a senate seat, and became president. Force turnover instead of senile old men wielding power. Of course it would require a constitutional convention to accomplish this or the solution in "Mars Attacks".
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I don’t think it solves the problem of vested interest money in the system. Draconian campaign finance reform is the only thing that’s actually going to make any substantive change to modern democratic politics.
 
Bob from Florida said:
The Bob from Florida solution for federal offices is a single 6 year term with no re- election possible. House, Senate, and Presidency - all single term. House and Senate up for elections every 2 years generating 1/3 turnover each election cycle. No one gets to make a career and since re- election is not allowed, they get to concentrate on the job and go back to private life when done. The most anyone could stay in power would be 18 years - if they won a house seat, a senate seat, and became president. Force turnover instead of senile old men wielding power. Of course it would require a constitutional convention to accomplish this or the solution in "Mars Attacks".
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Sorry Bob, term limits for some positions might work but this is a horrible idea. No possibility for re-election would mean the removal of the one actual avenue for accountability to voters. This would just be six-year windows for politicians to set themselves up as sweetly as possible in the private sector once those six years are up—i.e., the only incentive to run would be corruption.
 
BjorgenFjorgen said:
Sorry Bob, term limits for some positions might work but this is a horrible idea. No possibility for re-election would mean the removal of the one actual avenue for accountability to voters. This would just be six-year windows for politicians to set themselves up as sweetly as possible in the private sector once those six years are up—i.e., the only incentive to run would be corruption.
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Yep it just completely amplifies the issues of vested interest money in politics by giving a tiny window in which you have to do as much as possible to secure the most lucrative post politics job possible. Another avenue would be that if the President can’t be under 35 then they, or any other politician, can’t be over 70 either. That would tie in with upper age limits for civil service employment, well here at least.
 
BjorgenFjorgen said:
Sorry Bob, term limits for some positions might work but this is a horrible idea. No possibility for re-election would mean the removal of the one actual avenue for accountability to voters. This would just be six-year windows for politicians to set themselves up as sweetly as possible in the private sector once those six years are up—i.e., the only incentive to run would be corruption.
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Term limits aren’t a horrible idea. It’s better than career politicians but it wouldn’t completely fix things either. Elected officials bilking the system for 6 years versus 60 years is still preferable. Conversely, the large swath of lame duck members who are actually wanting to govern and legislate to get shit done without worrying about pissing off leadership, constituents, and/or donors. This would potentially allow them to work more honestly.

There are a bunch of other issues that would need to be addressed as well from gerrymandering to Citizens United, etc. but term limits could be more of a benefit than a harm if done properly.
 
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I still want it to be in the Constitution that every politician faces a criminal trial before they can run again/at the end of their term. And have the executive tried by the international court, not Americans. The opposite of Presidential immunity. Act in office knowing that you will be held accountable for your actions taken in office. Make higher office about sacrifice and not personal power and enrichment. Run knowing that your head is literally on the line, so you must act in the public interest. No more 47%, Romney crap. No more drone strikes on civilians (Obama), no more everything Trump did, no more supporting genocide (Biden). If America wants to be the global leader than our leaders should be subject to international judgement too.

I know this is a deeply unpopular idea that will never get wings in our lifetime.
 
Hemotep said:
I still want it to be in the Constitution that every politician faces a criminal trial before they can run again/at the end of their term. And have the executive tried by the international court, not Americans. The opposite of Presidential immunity. Act in office knowing that you will be held accountable for your actions taken in office. Make higher office about sacrifice and not personal power and enrichment. Run knowing that your head is literally on the line, so you must act in the public interest. No more 47%, Romney crap. No more drone strikes on civilians (Obama), no more everything Trump did, no more supporting genocide (Biden). If America wants to be the global leader than our leaders should be subject to international judgement too.

I know this is a deeply unpopular idea that will never get wings in our lifetime.
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You’d have to actually sign up to the ICC and stop financially sanctioning its prosecutors when they take legitimate steps against you and your allies!
 
Hemotep said:
I still want it to be in the Constitution that every politician faces a criminal trial before they can run again/at the end of their term. And have the executive tried by the international court, not Americans. The opposite of Presidential immunity. Act in office knowing that you will be held accountable for your actions taken in office. Make higher office about sacrifice and not personal power and enrichment. Run knowing that your head is literally on the line, so you must act in the public interest. No more 47%, Romney crap. No more drone strikes on civilians (Obama), no more everything Trump did, no more supporting genocide (Biden). If America wants to be the global leader than our leaders should be subject to international judgement too.

I know this is a deeply unpopular idea that will never get wings in our lifetime.
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It's not unlike the idea that was floated that the nuclear code would be implanted in someone and the president has to physically kill the person to get the code. Barbaric on one level, but it's also about how if you can't kill one for the sacrifice then you certainly shouldn't kill tens of thousands.
 
BjorgenFjorgen said:
Sorry Bob, term limits for some positions might work but this is a horrible idea. No possibility for re-election would mean the removal of the one actual avenue for accountability to voters. This would just be six-year windows for politicians to set themselves up as sweetly as possible in the private sector once those six years are up—i.e., the only incentive to run would be corruption.
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I do not agree thIs is a "horrible idea" as limited time as an elected official limits the damage they can do. Relying on the voting population to "vote them out" clearly doesn't work as the incumbents have a massive advantage at the polls.
Consider this - the whole conversation about Trump or Biden would not be taking place if they were limited to one 6 year term. No one would be concerned about which "jackass" was getting re-elected....... Trump can't shut up and Biden can't recall if he's President or Vice President. Having two different choices would be so refreshing!
We will likely never get to know as the chances of it happening are astronomically small.
 
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