Term Limits – Are They What We Need?

Term Limits have long been a popular debating point in American politics. There is much to be said for both sides of the argument. Whether you’re for term limits or not, that is up to you and I will not try to sell you on either side. But the one thing that is important to remember is that the main detriment to term limits is similar to the obstacles involved in unseating incumbent office holders.

The simple fact that there is a lack of good people willing to run for office; therein lays the single largest obstacle to keeping a good slate of people in government. It’s not that there is an overall lack of people willing to run, just a lack of good solid citizens who will to take the plunge and actually run for office. And who can really blame them?

A run for elected office invites many terrible experiences such as the basic unsavory criticisms, all the way to time away from home and family, the financial investment that is seen as insurmountable, and an invasion of privacy that most folks can’t even begin to imagine. Yet even with all this we are still surprised that the people who run for office so often tend to be of unfavorable morals.

Before this goes too much farther I am not saying that there aren’t good people in elected office – There Are. But for many folks who would make good elected officials, the intrusions into their life are far more than they are willing to endure. So whether we enact term limits or we are just looking for a better quality of person to run for office, good people must step up and meet the challenge of running for office.

Term Limits can be good as they keep people from becoming too complacent after years of serving in elected office; however, they can also be a detriment if good people are removed from office by term limits and replaced by less than desirable people who are elected simply because good people won’t run for office.

So in the end, term limits have their good points and their potential failing possibilities. The question is, if given the chance would you be willing to run for office? Or are you one of those willing to let someone else do it. It’s easy to sit back and just let someone else do the hard work, choose the hard path, and make the hard decisions. Are you one of those citizens or are you ready to make a difference?

If you support term limits then understand that the day may come when you may be that good person who people select to run – Would You?

The choice is yours,

Bill