HILL STAFF NEWS: Majority of Congressional Aides Support Term Limits for Bosses
This will likely come as a shock to more than 500 men and women working in the nation’s capitol who have prefixes before their names of either “Sen.” or “Rep.” What they will be shocked by is the fact that the most recent informal survey of congressional staffers by CNCT found that 53 percent profess to support term limits for members of Congress.
It’s true, CNCT, the app that connects people on Capitol Hill and elsewhere in government, does regular “Capitol Pulse” surveys of Hill staffers and the latest results are a stunner. Not only do 53 percent of the respondents overall support term limits, but 54 percent of staffers under age 30 backed term limits, compared to only 38 percent among older staffers.
Serving in either the upper or lower chamber doesn’t make much difference in the responses, with 59 percent of Senate aides supporting term limits and 51 percent among the lower chamber aides. Things were much more abrupt on the gender split, with 60 percent of males backing the idea and only 25 percent of the females.
Cover Photo Credit: Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash
Term limits are the lazy person’s attempt to outsource the duties of responsible voting and maintaining eternal vigilance that rest on all citizens of the republic to little lawyer-interpreted pieces of paper.
Did term limits stop Vladimir Putin? No. Gov. George Wallace of Alabama, USA? Again, no. There are many other examples.
Could it be that DC – wise staffers, Swampers in the literal sense would prefer to lead congress rather than having long-term Reps lead them?
but the status quo works right?
Using extreme examples tends to make bad policy. One could also find some very fine people for whom we would have been left without their service with term limits. The more important point is the vast majority of those in the middle 90 percent. Too many stay past their sell-buy date. Too many become crooked. Too many lose their nerve to do anything useful for fear of losing their position. It is past time to get rid of the those who serve their own interest before those of the nation.
“Did term limits stop Vladimir Putin? No. ”
Probably because ole Vlad didn’t have have term limits.
“Term limits are the lazy person’s attempt ”
Term limits are the rational response to corrupt politicians who see government as their divine right.
“…to outsource the duties of responsible voting and maintaining eternal vigilance that rest on all citizens of the republic to little lawyer-interpreted pieces of paper.”
This is finger wagging moralizing wrapped up in gibberish. And I’m pretty sure career politicians would agree that they should retain their positions for eternity.
“Could it be that DC – wise staffers, Swampers in the literal sense would prefer to lead congress rather than having long-term Reps lead them?”
Possible, but the staff changes over with the Reps.