When did our form of government begin to look like that of ancient Rome? Despite our founding father’s desire to create a more responsive form of government for our fledgling nation, their experiment continues to run full speed toward an elitist professional political class who has nothing in common with the citizens they represent. Fortunately for our “Roman Senate” (and House), the only uprising they should be worried about is the people becoming educated, fed-up, and actually voting. “Et tu Brute?”
Clearly the reason the Constitution contained two bodies of representation was to place controls over the exercise of power by the few over the many. Unfortunately, with the advent of career politicians, something which was unheard of in the 18th Century, the focus is now not on the represented but the representatives themselves. It seems that our elected leaders spend more time trying to protect their positions than trying to help their constituents. Voters are bombarded with commercials, flyers, phone calls and requests for money earlier and earlier in each successive campaign season. If you did not know better, you would think that the job of our elected leaders was to raise money to get elected instead of representing the interests of their district.
But even more troubling is that our representatives think they know what is best for their voters without even asking. How many times have we recently heard that a specific form of government-controlled health care is what we need, despite the fact that a large majority of the population believes otherwise? By staying in Washington and only occasionally returning to the districts they represent, senators and congressmen become more attuned to the ways of Washington than the problems at home. Is there a viable solution to this problem?
Term-limits may be the answer. In fact, some candidates agree, and promise their constituents that they will only serve a limited number of terms. But can we trust that they will keep their promise, especially after becoming enmeshed in the political environment in our nation’s capital? Can we honestly expect Congress to pass a law limiting the number of terms that they, themselves, can serve, thereby limiting their own power and influence? During this election cycle, why not ask your candidate if he/she believes in term limits. Their answer may surprise you – and give you an insight into their true character.
