The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Disneyphile]

I wish presidents could only serve a single 4-year term. I can't think of a single one who hasn't screwed up in their second term.

Everyone gets a little burned out in their jobs and sometimes start making mistakes - so do presidents. So, I think we should prevent it from happening as much as possible.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

I wish presidents could only serve a single 4-year term. I can't think of a single one who hasn't screwed up in their second term.

But what if the reason they screw up the second term is that they are not worrying about re-election and thus are not answerable to the voters anymore?

If that's the case allowing only single 4-year terms would have the exact opposite effect you are desiring.

Perhaps a better solution would be to allow Presidents to keep running as long as they like.

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

But what if the reason they screw up the second term is that they are not worrying about re-election and thus are not answerable to the voters anymore?

Impeachment, thought don't look to this bunch in DC for a lesson in how that's supposed to work.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Scrooge McSam

Impeachment, thought don't look to this bunch in DC for a lesson in how that's supposed to work.

Which is why I'm as angry at the current Democrat led Congress for doing nothing to stop the madness, as I was at the previous Republican Congress for rubber stamping the madness.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

But what if the reason they screw up the second term is that they are not worrying about re-election and thus are not answerable to the voters anymore?

If that's the case allowing only single 4-year terms would have the exact opposite effect you are desiring.

Perhaps a better solution would be to allow Presidents to keep running as long as they like.

I wouldn't mind that, as long as there was an annual or bi-annual election to determine whether or not they should continue serving. That would keep 'em on their toes.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

I wouldn't mind that, as long as there was an annual or bi-annual election to determine whether or not they should continue serving. That would keep 'em on their toes.

Too many elections leads to an elected body whose job is to please the electorate rather than make policy. I know that might sound like a good thing, but the Constitution was written to avoid a direct democracy for a reason. In the short term, the will of the people is a confused mess of immediate gratification. Elected officials need time in office to do their job and make long term plans, they don't need to be riding the fickle whims of the masses.

[Alex]

There is a line of thinking that a lot of the California budget problems have to do with the implementation of term limits and that legislators (and governors) have no strong incentive for considering consequences more than a decade in the future.