Something on which I've changed my mind.

[barfo]

You must be operating under that assumption that I think congress and the administration, both chock full of lawyers, are doing a good job.

What in my post makes you think that I assume that?

As for people "not caring" about the job, it's not supposed to be a life-time job. Harry Reid has acquired millions in wealth over his tenure in the Senate. He's not in it because he cares about the job. He cares about the money, and people give him money, along with sweetheart land deals, so they can gain access to his power.

I understand that, but that doesn't negate my point, unless you think it simply isn't possible to make the situation worse than it is right now. I think it is possible to make it worse (and, also, better, obviously).

With term limits, you put the power back in the hands of the populace, and if you make it less lucrative (and more like a state reps job, for example), that power doesn't become institutionalized. I don't think that's too extreme of a position. John McCain is another who has made millions in the public sector. They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. LOL

The populace already has the power, they choose not to use it. Most Americans think other people's congresspeople are whores, but their own guy is ok.
Your proposal doesn't give power to the populace, it reduces their power - they have one fewer choice for who to elect.

barfo

 

[NewsSource]

The populace already has the power, they choose not to use it. Most Americans think other people's congresspeople are whores, but their own guy is ok.
Your proposal doesn't give power to the populace, it reduces their power - they have one fewer choice for who to elect.

barfo

I disagree. History has shown that the longer politicians are in power, the more power is consolidated within that individual. It's why we had Robert Byrd and Strom Thurmond being senators when they should have been in a nursing home. They weren't running for them; they were running because their staffs/donors/etc. etc. still wanted access to that power.

 

[maxiep]

I like all of these rules Maxie. The only thing I have always disliked was the 2 year for representative. I think they end up wasting too much of their time trying to get re-elected. Also how many terms could a senator serve after they were a Rep for 8 years, in Maxie America?

Two. I think 20 years in Congress is more than generous.

 

[barfo]

I disagree. History has shown that the longer politicians are in power, the more power is consolidated within that individual. It's why we had Robert Byrd and Strom Thurmond being senators when they should have been in a nursing home. They weren't running for them; they were running because their staffs/donors/etc. etc. still wanted access to that power.

No doubt, but that does not change the fact that your proposal actually removes power from the people rather than adds it.

You are basically saying: "People, you aren't exercising your power the way we want, so we will change the rules to force you to exercise it the way we want".

Right now, they have the power to reelect people so old they can't feed themselves or use the toilet; you want to take that power away from them.

I'm not objecting to doing so - I think if there is a minimum age to serve, there should also be a maximum age. I only object to your suggestion that it empowers the people when it really does the opposite.

barfo

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I should be King of the United States.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

I should be King of the United States.

we already have one of those

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I should be King of the United States.

It's good to be the King.

 

[Denny Crane]

Not just congress and the administration, but the judicial branch is also completely infested with lawyers. We need to get rid of everyone with a background in law and get some common folk in there who know how to shoe a horse or dig a latrine.

barfo

Wow, right twice in the past 24 hours. What's going on?

You do realize that the guy who can shoe a horse can also hire a lawyer for advice when needed.

How about we have doctors run things. Or firemen.

I'd like people who "know stuff" (even if those are lawyers) making complex decisions that involve lots of factors rather than random people. But I'm perfectly fine with the idea of stricter term limits and the like, preventing career politicians.

I know some good lawyer jokes. What's the difference between a lawyer and a catfish? One's a bottom-dwelling scum-sucker and the other knows a lot about law.

So you agree that we should let the oil company experts make complex decisions that involve lots of factors.

 

[Minstrel]

So you agree that we should let the oil company experts make complex decisions that involve lots of factors.

Sure, if they win elections.

 

[Denny Crane]

Sure, if they win elections.

But the people in power are appointed. You know, like the IRS people in trouble, head of the EPA, FCC, FEC, HUD, etc.

Some democracy!

 

[Minstrel]

But the people in power are appointed. You know, like the IRS people in trouble, head of the EPA, FCC, FEC, HUD, etc.

Some democracy!

I know!

 

[Denny Crane]

http://news.yahoo.com/environmental-corruption-agency-070000170.html

 

[NewsSource]

Sure, if they win elections.

I must have missed when the lawyer who was the architect of the ACA was elected. Did I miss John Gruber being elected to congress?

http://www.politico.com/magazine/st...lip-flopping-architect-of-the-aca-109466.html

 

[NewsSource]

But the people in power are appointed. You know, like the IRS people in trouble, head of the EPA, FCC, FEC, HUD, etc.

Some democracy!

Or John Gruber, the architect of the ACA. But let's only have lawyers allowed to be elected, because of derp derp derp.

 

[NewsSource]

What I find funny is that some people seem to think that politicians actually craft their own legislation, or that judges write their own opinions. That's what staff is for in the instance of the former, and what clerks are for in the instance of the latter.

 

[Minstrel]

I must have missed when the lawyer who was the architect of the ACA was elected. Did I miss John Gruber being elected to congress?

I thought we were talking about limitations on elected officials, based on the opening post.

Sure, oil executives can be advisers or appointees, if that's who the President and/or congress think will help them do the best job.

 

[Denny Crane]

I thought we were talking about limitations on elected officials, based on the opening post.

Sure, oil executives can be advisers or appointees, if that's who the President and/or congress think will help them do the best job.

Kind of fascist, isn't it? You know, big business and government so intertwined.

It's no better if it's academics and government in bed together. If you need proof, there are $17 trillion reasons why.

 

[Minstrel]

Kind of fascist, isn't it? You know, big business and government so intertwined.

It's no better if it's academics and government in bed together. If you need proof, there are $17 trillion reasons why.

Very. I see the common denominator there: government. Ergo, government doing anything is pretty fascist.

 

[Denny Crane]

Very. I see the common denominator there: government. Ergo, government doing anything is pretty fascist.

Now you're arguing on the correct side of the argument. Nice!

I wouldn't call academic involvement in govt. fascist. It just isn't govt. of the people for the people by the people.

 

[MARIS61]

Nepotism is the real enemy.

Roughly only 16 families have held Presidential office in our country's history, and the same is nearly true of cabinet positions and most other positions of power in Washington.

 

[Minstrel]

I wouldn't call academic involvement in govt. fascist.

Well, you said it was no better than the fascism. That's pretty same-same.

Pretty bold to say academics aren't people, though. That's racist!

 

[NewsSource]

I thought we were talking about limitations on elected officials, based on the opening post.

Sure, oil executives can be advisers or appointees, if that's who the President and/or congress think will help them do the best job.

You obviously skipped over a bunch of posts, then.

 

[Denny Crane]

Well, you said it was no better than the fascism. That's pretty same-same.

Pretty bold to say academics aren't people, though. That's racist!

They are a privileged class thanks to government. Not "of the people."

 

[Minstrel]

You obviously skipped over a bunch of posts, then.

Entirely possible. There are often a lot of silly posts.

 

[MarAzul]

Well, you said it was no better than the fascism. That's pretty same-same.

Pretty bold to say academics aren't people, though. That's racist!

Racist?? Dang! Is that liberal reaction for anything when you don't agree?

 

[Minstrel]

Racist?? Dang! Is that liberal reaction for anything when you don't agree?

Yes. Stop being racist.

 

[MarAzul]

Yes. Stop being racist.

You need to reload.

 

[maxiep]

When you have truthtellers like our last two presidents, who needs to rein in their power?

[video=youtube;seAR1S1Mjkc]

 

[barfo]

When you have truthtellers like our last two presidents, who needs to rein in their power?

President is the one office we DO have term limits on.

barfo