The Problem Is With Both Parties
Dear Editor,
“Cats and dogs living together …”
I can’t think of a better line than that to describe the chaos that is now running rampant in the halls of Congress. If there was ever a perfect example of why we need to institute term limits on both Houses of Congress, this is it. These are supposed to be our leaders. Frankly I wouldn’t let them lead me to the latrine. And the problem is not one party or the other, but both!
These “professional politicians” have led – no, not led but driven our great country to the edge of the cliff. When the threat of shutting down the government loomed there was listing of who would not get paid – the military, government workers, necessary functions. What was missing on that list? Oh yeah, these “professional politicians” themselves. They were still going to get paid. That should tell the American people where our representative republic has gone.
These people have forgotten they are representatives of the people – all the people, not those well-heeled few, on both sides of the aisle. That and eliminate the 17th Amendment and go back to senators being elected by state legislatures instead of the popular vote of the people.
One thing that is starting to happen that is scaring the hell out of both parties is the raising interest in a third party. And what could really scare them more than ever is that third parties are actually doing work for all the people. Doing what is best for America first, then everyone else. Things like getting control of the borders (south and north), adhering to the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, giving back control of the American government to the American people.
And I don’t put the entire blame on the “professional politicians.” The average American citizen has a level of blame in this as well. You are the ones that have allowed this to reach this level by your lack of interest and participation. Remember, they work for us, not the other way around. And that applies to ALL levels of government. One way to get back to the way it should be is term limits on Congress. Fire these “professional politicians”.
As Benjamin Franklin said: “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Carpe diem,
Alan Marshall
Drama Queen Alan wants to eliminate the 17th amendment so gerrymandered districts drive the appointment of senators versus statewide elections that truly reflect the populous of a State. Just another power grab idea by a power-hungry republican who can’t stand the idea that his party isn’t the majority in his state.
The problem with term limits is that we (collectively) don’t want them. We don’t have to keep sending the same tyrannical control freaks to Raleigh and the District of Corruption (and our city council) election after election, but we do it anyway, or at least the people who count the votes say we do.
So Chris (or chris or whatever), you so blatantly show your lack of knowledge (i.e. blatant ignorance) of the system of government set by our forefathers.
I wish I had the time to explain it in more detail but let me try to keep it simple in order for Simple Chris (or chris or whatever) to understand it.
Under the Constitution, before the 17th Amendment which was passed in in 1912 and ratified in 1913 (a few years after the establishment of the Constitution…just a few) the founders envisioned a system in which the individual citizens were represented by the House of Representatives. They are the People’s voice. The Senate was selected by the state legislature and were to be the voice of the individual states, hence the reason all states, regardless of size, have two Senators vs. the number representing the citizens. Each state had an equal number of representatives in the Senate regardless of size and were selected by the state legislature. Thus the states and the individual citizens had a voice. Under the current system the states have NO representation on the federal level so why have a Senate. All they are is two more representative of individual citizens and a drain on taxpayers. Let’s save money by dissolving the Senate and just let everything be done by the House. That would mean the number of government leeches would be reduced.
Or we could revoke the 17th Amendment, return the government back to what it was and return power and authority back to state legislatures which would give power back to the citizens…God forbid that!
You so blatantly show your lack of knowledge of American history. The reason for the 17th amendment was that the House would hold up the selection of Senators and that the positions led to corruption with seats being bought and sold on a regular basis. Just look at the dysfunction of our current house of representatives.
To say something should be the was it was because that is the way it was is one of your more ignorant statements. But I am not at all shocked at your ignorance.
By your absurd argument we should have done to the same for the House of Representatives.
It worked until 1913, albeit not perfectly, but I defy you to show some form of me ONE example of anything in government that hasn’t had some form of corruption.
Power corrupts…absolute power corrupts absolutely.
It clearly didn’t work given the 17th amendment. Guess you think you know better than all of congress from that era. What a joke.
Hate to tell you this Chris. . . .but the seats in the House & Senate are bought by those whose power and influence control what happens.
Why not have a county by county election of our representatives, not those gerrrymandered like the one with Kathy Manning who had all of Guilford and included the east side of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.
Term limits would likely require an amendment to the constitution, not just a simple vote on a bill that could be reversed easily by another congress. High bar to jump over, I do agree that it is needed.
Not necessarily. The states can establish term limits on Representatives and Senators since they are elected by the people of individual states. In the case of Senators, the people who elect the State legislature have the power there indirectly. But I do believe we need term limits on elected officials instead of allowing it to become a profession.
I often shake my head at the uninspired things you come up with Chris but this time you really got a chuckle out of me. I know you think you are a smart man but a smart man at least listens to the other side. Believe it or not wisdom does come with age….
Hey KF….you are correct in saying wisdom comes with age. BUT, most of us are aware there are some cases/examples where no wisdom exist. For example, the current listed president.