Remembered this thread from 2008 after reading another thread. IMHO the biggest problem in Washington and with most elected officials is that they start trying to get re-elected as soon as they get elected. My proposal was to extend each term 50% with a term limit of one term.

 

A couple of ideas I'd add to my original post would be to eliminate the pension for the congress and the senate. House them in Govt housing of some sort, a dorm/hotel like facility, that way they don't get too comfortable in DC.

 

Go to Washington, tend to the peoples business, serve your term and come back home and live with your decisions like the rest of us.

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How about politicians cant be filthy rich, since IMO they are out of touch with real people and real problems. You think they worry about putting gas in their tank, going to yard sales looking for kid clothes, or worry about paying an electric bill.

What happens and we find some really good people who serve very well, I'd say life time. I haven't cared for a president that we have had in my life time. Now if we have one and everybody is happy (never happen) let him/her stay as long as needed.

Term Limits is the answer. I think what we currently have works well. Except Congress. They are the ones that need two terms only.

The problem does not lie with the politicians but with the people. Our government came fully equipped with a mechanism to keep politicians focused on their job, yet little over half will use it this Presidential election and far less than that will use it intelligently. What incentive would a politician have to be an effective advocate for their constituency if they did not have to face the voters? Politicians focus on their jobs when voters are similarly focused.

 

Agreed. The electorate needs to do their job. Lame duck elected officials have no incentive to do the will of their constituents. Term limits are NOT the answer.