Term Limits Now
Dear Editor,
I’ve ranted and raved about imposing term limits on the federal level. Lord knows we need it. Those people have gotten to the point where they have dual residence status in our state and DC. But now I’m turning my ire to a more local level.
We, as residents of the great state of North Carolina, need to impose term limits on our local politicians from the state level down. Having said this I just lost what few friends I have in the Republican Party, but my philosophy is professional politicians can and do exist at all levels.
I will be open and admit that I have held my position on the Pleasant Garden Town Council for three terms, which totals 12 years. This is my last term. I am stepping aside because I believe fresh ideas need to be brought in.
Term limits at each level of government from the state on down is something we the people need to establish. A town, city, or county should set their own standards with the state level decided by the people, and this includes the representatives and senators we send to DC. Someone, please show me where it says we cannot do this in any state or federal constitution. After all, those documents are for us, the citizens.
Professional politicians are one of the biggest problems we the people face. It was never the idea when this government, at all levels, was established. The current situation is the quintessential example of why. These people vote their own pay raises and benefits! Show me any other job where you get to do that. Look at a good chunk of Greensboro City Council and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Most of them have been there for how long? And don’t tell me they wouldn’t be there if the people didn’t want them.
I won’t even begin to talk about how outside money comes in, from both sides, to influence these elections. These are our elections! This is supposed to be for electing people who will work for us, not some special interest group.
I realize I am urinating in fast moving air, but it needs to be said loudly and clearly. And it’ll take people getting off their fourth point of contact and speaking loudly and clearly by voting. You don’t make your voice heard then sit down and take it.
Carpe diem.
Alan Marshall
Well spoken and I concur.
Thank you Jeanette, I try.
Thanks Alan I like you have been saying for years there needs to be term limits. We have limits for the President so why not every other position in government, local state and federal Another issue I have is allowing out of state college students to vote in local elections. Greensboro has 5 colleges and universities, that’s a lot of out of state people who really have no skin in the game. I know my next statement won’t be popular but I think the voting age should be raised to 21 and getting a drivers license should be 18. Most 18 year olds have little or no knowledge of what’s going on in politics and 16 year olds are not mature enough to have a drivers license. Nothing is going to change on it’s on, we have to make it happen g
Thank you Aussie.
I have advocated changing the local election requirements for the very same reason you put forth. I would have addressed it in this letter as well but couldn’t due to space limits. (Not complaining John). When I post this to my blog, alanscorner.blog, I will be including this very subject as well.
I remember when the voting age changed in 1972, along with lowering the drinking age. One of the biggest arguments was in favor of the changes was if I can go to war, I should be able to drink and vote.
I also remember how you could get your learners permit only at 16. You also had to have a drivers ed class given at school.
Voting ain’t gonna change it, Alan. I have become convinced that the internals of the voting machines are altering the vote tally.
I’d like to see us return to paper ballots and padlocked tin boxes, That’s very difficult to fiddle (provided partisan observers are present and watching).
“It’s not who votes, it’s who counts the votes” – Joe Stalin.
Thanks Austin.
I agree with you and for justification just look at what has been happening lately with machines going down, in some cases in mass. And what happens when the power goes out? Can there be cheating with paper ballots? Of course there can. Where do you think the therm “ballot box stuffing” came from. The problem with electronic voting is the ease with which massive cheating can take place.
And don’t try this “but electronic voting is much more convenient” B.S. because the difference between using a touch screen vs. a pen is incredibly minor, yet the pen is, in my opinion, much more secure. How many stories have we heard about how “secure” electronic devices being hacked. Can you say T-Mobile? I knew you could.
Yes, it’s more manpower (oh, I’m sorry for being sexist,,,person power) intensive and will take longer to count but looking at recent problems it would get done quicker.
And I like your quote. I’m going to use that on my blog. Thanks
Alan, I agree 1000%: My 2 biggest issues with American Government today is lack of term limits and lobbyists with their money/influence.
Thank you Chris Bradsher. ( I’m sorry for being formal but I don’t want you confused with PG Chris. You don’t deserve that insult)
When this nation and it’s government was organized and established, the system worked. The problem is that as things went along the corruption, greed, quest for power began to take over. I am far from saying all politicians share in this but when you start seeing some that are in their positions of power for decades, who have become what I call “professional politicians”. Again, not all are like that, but those that actually served the people who elected them (the Honorable Howard Coble is an excellent example) unfortunately will be caught up with those that really need to go.
What We the People do not need is are “professional politicians”. What we do need is the system as it originally established with the Peoples representation elected by the People and the States representation elected by the State government.