michelleponders

As I watch what is happening in politics as we head into the next presidential election in November, I can’t help but to go back to the issue of term limits. Career politicians are dangerous to a democracy and republic. It doesn’t matter if it is local, regional, state or a federal level. The only political office that has term limits is the presidency, which is 2 four year terms. The only exception to the presidency term rule is the office of the vice president, who can run for president despite the fact this person has already been in the vice presidency for 2 terms(8 years). Other than that, there are no term limits for federal political offices. There are minimum age requirements for different political offices on the federal, state and local levels. And even those are questionable.

So let’s take a look at political office requirements. The minimum age to run for the office of president and vice president is 35. The minimum age to run for senator is 30 and the minimum age to run for representative is 25. Once you get to the state and local offices, the minimum age requirements depend on the position you are seeking. From state governor to city mayor, the ages vary and begin at 18(look up your state). There are some states with term limits for governors. I live in a state where there is no term limits for the governor. But other than being a citizen, being of moral turpitude and no felonies that is it. There are very few limits and guildlines for running for political office.

The first thing that pops out at me is age. How in the world can a person who only has 18 years on this earth, with little to no real life experience outside of the parental home, run any type of government office? An 18 year old barely knows how to get out of the house each day, much less know what critical thinking is required to use in making policies. And yet, an 18 year old is considered an adult who can vote or go into the military/selective service. But when it comes to buying alcohol and tobacco, it’s against the law until 21 years of age. Gee, I wonder why? Now I understand that there are eighteen year olds who are mature for their age and speak quite eloquently. That will serve them well as they get older and want to move up in their careers and such. But an eighteen year old lacks any life experience for policy making and that’s a fact. When it it comes to making policies that govern peoples lives, there are skills that are needed. Living on your own and paying bills to find out what happens when you don’t pay your bills on time, buying your own food and see just how much food really costs, and working a job that is only interested in what you can do for them and then proceed to work the crap out of you because you do your job well when your coworkers skate by with doing as little as they can do and are still the ‘teacher’s pet’. When you deal with health insurance companies and try to get life saving meds or procedures approved. These are major life issues that help you to think critically and understand how the world truly works. Plus you discover how policies and procedures that are made by politicians effect you. And these policies and procedures directly or indirectly teach you things in way a text book or lecture can never teach you. An eighteen year old has no business in any political office. The minimum age for any local or state office not governed by certain policies or the constitution(state or federal) should be 27. You should be a minimum of 35 to run for representative or senator. And the minimum age to be president or vice president should be 45. Depending on the office you are seeking, you should have enough life experience and critical thinking skills to hold the office.

Term limits. Absolute power=absolute corruption. This applies to any and all political offices from local to federal. All states should have term limits for governors and all state political offices in each state’s constitution. All cities and counties should have term limits for all local political offices in their charters. There should be term limits for senators and representatives. ALL political offices should have term limits. And that limit should be 2 terms. The top political office in the US has a 2 term limit and that sets the precedence for all political offices. Period. No one should be in the same political office for more than two terms. The Vice Presidency is a loop hole that needs to be closed. If a person has held the Vice President position for two terms, then that person should only be allowed to hold the President’s office for one term if elected. Eight years as a Vice President should equal one term as President.

I know not everyone will agree with these term limits or ideas but to each their own. Washington D.C. is in dire need to be cleaned up and this would be an excellent start.