Amrerica is facing a wide range of
issues at the moment. Perhaps not more issues than at any time
before, but it certainly seems like it thanks to the 24 hour news
cycle. In no particular order we're facing the Fiscal Cliff, Gun
Control, the Debt Ceiling, Unemployment, Medicare solvency, Tax
Reform, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Judiciary Appointments, so on
and so forth. Washington, or at least the people we send there, are
unable or unwilling to actually solve any of these issues.
There exists a wide variety of why
inaction is better than action on the part of our elected officials.
Some stand to personally profit from circumstances they create. Many
are effectively pressured by groups that lobby for certain industries
or interests. Some are seeking to fulfill personal vendettas, I'm
looking at you John McCain. Many claim to be answering to the will of
the American people. I suspect if that were true Congress would have
higher than an 11% approval rating. What is really happening here is
easy to fix, but sadly would rely on those people who are the problem
to fix it.
There once was a time when we the
people would elect representatives who would go to Washington and
they would vote on stuff we didn't care to pay attention to and then
in a few years they would come back to us, lie about what they had
done and we would elect them again, or not. Now though, the campaign
season begins as soon as the previous election is over. As we speak,
buzz exists of the 2016 race between Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton, a
month before the inaguaration of Obama's 2nd term. Every
action, every vote, is part of the effort to get reelected because we
do not have term limits for Congress. This means that opposition to
the other side is a feat in and of itself, no matter what you're
opposing.
Take the case of taxes. Both sides
openly agree about extending the Bush tax cuts for 98% of Americans.
One side says 98%, the other 100%. In a rational world, the 100% side
would take 98% of what they want and would then fight for that last
2% if they really thought it was important. Compromise in any other
context is not a fight over one side getting 98% of what it wants
comparted to 100%. But, we live in an era of opposition politics, not
compromise.
Gun contraol is similarly and
needlessly confused. Even 75% of NRA members believe that if you're
on the Terrorist Watch List, you shouldn't be able to buy a gun. More
than 60% of them believe that limitations on assault rifles and high
capacity magazines are reasonable. But, in a case where both side can
reach many points of agreement, one side is saying things like "We
need more guns in schools, not less!" because it panders to the
opposition.
The Fiscal Cliff and Debt Ceiling are
classic examples of opposition until the last possible second on
ideas that both side clearly agree on. The Cliff will be dealt with.
The Ceiling will be raised. Before that happens there will be weeks
of public speeches and whining and whimpering and rumors and
implication because that is the process now.
If we want to solve all these problems
and all those that will come in the future we need leadership that is
concerned only with doing the right thing for the people that sent
them to do that thing. We need severe term limits on Congress and the
Senate. Senators serve for 6 years per term now. Being a Senator
brings a lot of power and perks and frankly, it is time to flush the
entire system that allows people to serve 50 years in that
legislative body. One term. One six-year term. Senators have too much
power to be allowed to use it for reelection. For the House, two
2-year terms, then you're out.
I believe that if we remove the need
for constant grandstanding, obstruction, manipulation and pandering,
we can accomplish quite a lot more. Our founders expected terms of
service from our representatives that would be temporary. They were
quite correct on that point. Limited terms are the first step toward
a broader solution to the issues at hand.
