Term limits

A contender for one of Utah's seats in the US Senate is among those having interest in imposing term limits. I assume that an amendment to the Constitution would be necessary.

Unfortunately, such a limit would eliminate the statesmen that our nation desperately needs. More unfortunately, I can't think of more than a handful of Constitution-respecting statesmen currently in political office. So, I have reluctantly come to believe that term limits are necessary to save the nation and its Constitution. I also suggest a couple of alternatives that might achieve the same objective:

1 - None of the above -- The ballot would list the candidates according to current practice plus a line for "None of the above." If 60% of voters select "None of the Above," all congressmen who have served more than two terms would be removed from office and would be forever banned from serving in local, state, or national political, appointed, or judicial office. A new election would be scheduled to replace those removed from office.

2 - National vote -- Senators and representatives are elected to represent their constituents. But, their actions affect the rights of everyone in the nation -- even the entire world. In far too many cases, voters place more emphasis on the seniority and power of their congressmen than on their character, agenda, and adherence to the Constitution. Long-serving congressmen are virtually unbeatable because they have overwhelming financial backing to win elections. Because powerful congressmen can affect the rights of people who are not their constituents, I propose that congressmen who have served longer than 15 years be placed on a national ballot. A negative vote of 60% of voters nationwide would override the vote of the congressman's constituents and he would be removed from office and would be forever banned from serving in local, state, or national political, appointed, or judicial office.

Of course, I also believe it is imperative that the 17th Amendment be repealed immediately. When most people talk of the checks and balances of the central government, they think about the balance of power between the three branches of the government. The founders also built into the Constitution other checks on government power -- the power of the separate, sovereign States. The 17th Amendment emasculated the founder-intended power of the States to protect individual rights from a tyrannical central government. That power must be restored by rescinding the 17th Amendment.