To: President Donald Trump
Congressional Term Limits
The Twenty-second Amendment of the United States Constitution sets a term limit for election to the office of President of the United States, but Congress has no such limitations to their tenure.
In August of 2012 a Gallup poll was released that demonstrated a 10% approval rating of Congress by the American public. Why is it that some Congressmen have served for up to 50+ years, then? I propose it is because of cronyism and manipulation by special interest groups. In 2010, the median net worth of our lawmakers was nine times as much as the average American household. (http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/08/news/economy/congress-net-worth/index.htm). Are they seeking re-election to look after the best interest of their constituents or is it that they are motivated by lining their pockets? I suggest it's the latter, and even worse, that they are representing the best interests of their campaign donors.
Tell President Obama that "We the People" demand he Amend the Constitution and set term limits on our members of Congress.
In August of 2012 a Gallup poll was released that demonstrated a 10% approval rating of Congress by the American public. Why is it that some Congressmen have served for up to 50+ years, then? I propose it is because of cronyism and manipulation by special interest groups. In 2010, the median net worth of our lawmakers was nine times as much as the average American household. (http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/08/news/economy/congress-net-worth/index.htm). Are they seeking re-election to look after the best interest of their constituents or is it that they are motivated by lining their pockets? I suggest it's the latter, and even worse, that they are representing the best interests of their campaign donors.
Tell President Obama that "We the People" demand he Amend the Constitution and set term limits on our members of Congress.
Why is this important?
Even the founders believed in term limits as evidenced by George Washington's decision not to seek a third term. Historians suggest this was done in a bulwark against development of a monarchy in spite of his farewell speech's mention of age. Jefferson wrote that "if some termination to the services of the chief Magistrate be not fixed by the Constitution, or supplied by practice, his office, nominally four years, will in fact become for life." The founders realized that there was a risky temptation for the position to be manipulated into self-serving motives.