Approval ratings for Congress are at an all-time low. Seventy percent of Americans polled believe that Congress is doing a poor job. Most Americans believe Congress is failing and not bad in running our country. Why? The growing federal deficit is undoubtedly the main reason, but there are many other reasons. Lobby groups seem to control Congress in the eyes of the Americans. We like to think we choose a member of the House or the Senate and that they represent our interests, but it is clear that the lobbies in the driving seat in Congress has become the most. These groups help fund, Congress elections and therefore, they are able to influence Congress more than voters. Legislative surplus is another.
Americans see Congress as nothing more than an invoice making machine. A law shall be adopted after the other. Idleness is another problem inherent in our bi-cameral legislative branch. Democrats and Republicans never seem to see and the byproduct of this Congress is a stagnant. The few things we want to Congressional action, just never seem to get get accomplished. The reform of the tort in the healthcare, balanced budget legislation, simplification of the tax. The list goes on and that nothing is done in the Congress with the exception of those that seems to be directly to the deficits or benefits from special interest groups. Americans are just tired of Congress and our patience has run out. So what can be done?
The heart of the problem:
The real problem with Congress is not the representatives that we choose to Office. The real problem is the workings of Congress. The infrastructure must be reformed. The fact is, most in Congress put an inordinate amount of time raising money from special interest groups and lobbyists. They spend less time on legislative efforts than in the campaign. Why? Because they need money to be re-elected. Campaign takes a lot of their time. If we want to minimize the amount of time spent by the Congress raising money for their campaigns should we need to campaign for re-election in the first place. How? Term limits. By term limits this campaign we can increase machine shut down once and for all. In my opinion is the best way to do this to limit of members of the House and Senate for a term of six years. We would spread term limits for elected representatives every two years.
For example, a third in 2012 would be elected for a term of six years; in 2014, the second a third and in 2016 the third a third party. By the spread of the term of six years, we assure that one group (i.e. Democrats) would not be swept into Office all at once, and the Americans are stuck with a partisan group for six years.
Term limits would eliminate the need to campaign for re-election. Campaign requires a lot of time. Often as much as 50% of the elected official time is spend on the campaign. How would term limits eliminate this wasted time? Elected officials would have a term of six years and that's it. They have six years to get the job done. Since there would be no need for campaign, we would minimize the special interests of influence and pressure groups currently enjoy. As a bonus, if Congress had no campaign for reelection, should they spend most of their time in the legislative field. We would, in fact, a Congress that 100 percent of the time on the legislative front, instead of only 50% of the time. We'd get twice the work for the same pay. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Congress would, of course, never agree to this. They want the existence of special interest groups and interest groups. Why? Because many in Congress going on in order for these groups to work and to millions in exchange for influence peddling. Term limits would the removal of a very big payday for members of Congress. The only available means to change the infrastructure of the Congress by the creation of term limits is via a constitutional amendment to the grass roots level; the State legislators. And it would be leadership at the highest level in order to put on the map. We had to choose a President running on a platform of congressional reform through the creation of a constitutional amendment. Although unlikely, it is possible, given the very low approval ratings that Congress now endures. The reality is, if we have the infrastructure of the Congress did not change, we never the influence special interest groups and lobbyists can eliminate about them. And this influence often overrides the good of the country.
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