Time’s Up

Term limits, term limits, term limits!
What do I have to do to convince some folks that term limits are needed?
Do I really have to say anything more than Strom Thurman, Ted Kennedy or Robert Byrd to prove that professional politicians are a bad idea?
I spent Saturday at the Ashe County courthouse covering the annual county Republican Party convention.
Among the items that members dealt with during the business meeting was a resolution to limit big government and ignore term limits.
Being the way I am, I had to debate a little about this with my Republican friends because I think they have it wrong.
First off, and very quickly, the no-big-government idea holds no sway with me because I don’t personally care how big government is, only how effective it is.
If it takes 10 people to keep the trains running on time that’s fine, but if it takes 100 people to keep the trains running on time, that’s fine too. Government is always getting bigger. Know why? Because the world is getting more and more complicated and it takes more people to do the work.
Term limits are a different animal altogether.
When the founders constructed our government, they had no clue that we would grow as large as we have grown. The country was fairly small then and no one was talking about large government, only independent government run by representatives of the people.
Our leaders are supposed to be our peers. Our leaders are supposed to be in touch with their home districts so that they know what is important to their constituents.
Never-ending political careers that keep people in Washington for 15, 25 or 50 years are not conducive to staying in touch with the home folks.
You know President Washington had the good sense to term limit himself. If he was the quintessential American leader, then why isn’t his self-imposed rule for leadership not good enough for all the career politicians?
These people, many of who grew up wealthy and have spent their whole lives preparing for government service, think that holding office is a career.
Well, it was never intended to be. It was intended to be a sacrifice that you left your home and careers for, to be of service to your fellow countrymen. Today, for many, it is a way of life.
One nice lady asked me Saturday, “You mean you think that Virginia [Foxx] should have to give up her seat?” My response was “yes, after eight years, she needs to go,” as does every politician both Republican and Democrat from aldermen to president, you do eight years and you go. No matter how good or bad you are at the job. That includes state officials too, so Cullie Tarleton and Steve Goss, are halfway there.
Hey, once your eight years are done you can always run for higher office. If you have done a good enough job you’ll win — if not, too bad.
The last argument I received from someone Saturday was that “We impose term limits by using the ballot box. Otherwise you have a lame-duck government.”
Well, it shouldn’t be lame-duck; if the people that are elected are there for the right reasons and not trying to make a big name and enriching themselves, then it won’t be a problem.
While we are at it, since there is a minimum age for office, there needs to be a maximum age as well. My suggestion would be 65; you are eligible for Social Security then and so it’s time to retire.
It remains true, as Mr. Jefferson said, “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” It is just as true that government must be refreshed from time to time by washing free the manure that collects over eight years. Since most people vote by name recognition anyway, the laws need to enforce what we as a citizenry can’t seem to figure out.
Note: My mentioning of Congresswoman Foxx, Senator Goss and Representative Tarleton in this column should not in any way be taken as an endorsement by this reporter or The Ashe Mountain Times of their respective opponents in this year’s primary or general elections.- RF