I've seen this argument before

[kierthos]

"We can't have really restrictive term limits on politicians, because they'll barely learn how to do their jobs well before having to give them up."

Uh, what?

Okay, let's say that we restrict, say, Representatives to three 2-year terms (total of six years), which somehow comes across as a terrible idea.

Look, if you can't learn how to do your job (show up, read legislation, vote on legislation, have three martini lunch, fuck off for rest of day) inside of a couple of weeks, you're doing something wrong. And half the fucking time, they don't even bother reading the legislation. "Oh, I'm a {insert party} and this is from {same party}. I'm for it." Or "Oh, I'm a {insert party} and this is from {other party}. I'm against it."

Yeah, yeah... if you're on one of the big committees, you actually have other shit to do.... ahahahahahaha... yeah, not so much. Pretty much boils down to "Same shit, different room."

Fuck that. They should no longer get to vote on their own raises either, for that matter. In fact, we should vote on whether they get pay raises or pay cuts.

Comments

[herlander_refugee]

I absolutely don't think they should get to vote themselves raises - but wish I could think of a way to institute that!

[egearman]

Technically, they don't vote themselves raises. They have to pass a vote to not get a raise. Otherwise it just automatically happens.

I think they shouldn't get paid at all. Just get a clothing, housing and food budget. Orange jumpsuits are not that expensive. Take the rest of the idea from there...

[herlander_refugee]

It is scary how much I like the way you think. But maybe we could spring for monkey suits?

[egearman]

To be honest, I got the idea from Terry Pratchett's - The Last Continent. But I liked it enough to start using it for any elected official above dog catcher or coroner. Though why those two positions are still elected, I have no idea.

[herlander_refugee]

OMGs, it has been forever since I read that.

I don't think our dog catchers are elected....

[jdack]

Their under paid staff of LC's and LA's and interns do ALL the work. All they do is like you said, read something, push a button.

[dreamshade]

What I've heard from a couple of people is that California instituted term limits, and it kinda failed because there are no term limits for lobbyists who have learned how to work the system, so the kowtowing to special interests and lack of connection with constituents hasn't improved much.

[kierthos]

Well, I'd handle that by shooting a lot of the lobbyists.

I take that back.... if it was my choice, I'd handle it by being an immortal dictator and not having lobbyists.