Term Limits for Congress!

Written by Frank Li

The U.S. Congress is a failing institution! One possible way to resuscitate it is to introduce strict term limits, for the same reason they are necessary for the American Presidency!

1. Congress is a failing institution!

Three examples:

1. We, the people, have lost faith in it! For more, read: Congress approval rating drops to 11%.
2. Congressional acts have severely damaged America, from the Iraq War to the recent passage of the “9/11 Victims Bill”. For more, read: The U.S. Congress vs. the U.S.A.!
3. They, the law-makers, know it, as shown by the image below.

2. Why is Congress failing?

The image below highlights the key reason behind our failed political system.

According to Salaries of Members of the United States Congress, Members of Congress were virtually unpaid until 1855. In other words, to be a Member of Congress, first you had to make it (i.e. becoming financially independent), then you served with honor for a few years, and finally you went home. Serving was never meant to be a way of life – not even to make a living, let alone a career!

Below are three excerpts from Congressional offices and staff.

All hell broke loose during the 1970s, as the era of “career politicians” began! Since then, most, if not all, Members of Congress have been serving for one purpose only: getting re-elected ad nauseam. In other words, it stopped being about us, or about the U.S. – It became all about them!

3. Beyond Congress

More broadly, structurally, our political system is practically the same as a monarchy, with one exception: instead of having one king (or queen), we have 545 kings and queens (i.e. 535 in Congress, nine in the Supreme Court, and one in the White House)!

In terms of the contents and results, it’s even worse than a monarchy, as none of the 545 kings and queens are any good, especially when compared with our chief competitors.

Worst of all, together they have done more damage to America than all of the American enemies have done, combined! For more, read: Three Worst American Terrorists: JFK, GWB, and BHO!

4. Term limits for Congress as a possible solution

Here are two arguments against term limits:

1. Our political system is fine. We just need to elect the right people.
2. Term limits for Congress are already there – Just stop electing the incumbents if you don’t like them.

Let me dispel each.

4.1 Why can’t we just elect the right people?

Most people we elect are “right,” at least when they are elected the first time. It’s the political system that turns them “wrong”! Here is an extreme example: in 2006, Senator Obama correctly voted against raising the debt ceiling to $9 trillion, which he labeled “unpatriotic”. But under President Obama, our national debt has ballooned to well over $19 trillion, rising rapidly.

What about Congress? It’s infinitely worse!

To know what a typical Congressman like David Jolly does on daily basis, read: Republican congressman exposes one of Congress’ dirty little secrets on ’60 Minutes’. Below is an excerpt.

4.2 Term limits for Congress are already there, really?

Specifically, when an incumbent like Jolly focuses solely on his own re-election, do you really think a challenger will have any chance?

Oh, do not forget about this: most of the incumbents are unchallenged, thanks to decades of Redistricting. In other words, we do not choose them, but they choose us instead!

The cruel reality is that the incumbents have so many advantages over the challengers that most of them keep getting re-elected. More worrisome, most Americans like their own Members of Congress, because they bring home the “pork”.

What’s pork? It’s often pure theft from the public treasury! Still wondering why our national debt is more than $19 trillion, rising rapidly?

Wonder not! The money has been used to buy votes!

5. What should the term limits look like?

Just add strict term limits to the existing system! For example, two terms!

Here is a valid argument: it takes a newly elected House Member quite some time to learn the job.

Here is a solution:

1. Prolonging one term of two years to four or even six years.
2. Simplifying our system, from laws to the tax code, so that you do not have to be a lawyer to serve.
3. Abolishing all the committees in Congress! Let the executive branch run the country, especially in conjunction with a one-term (i.e. six years) President. For more, read: President Trump Must Be One-Term, Voluntarily!

6. Can we have it with President Trump?

Yes, we can! Trump has repeatedly pledged that, as President, he would pursue term limits for Congress (Trump calls for congressional term limits). For more, read: Donald Trump 2.0.

7. Will we have it with President Trump?

Hopefully yes!

For more, read: President Trump Must Be One-Term, Voluntarily!

8. Closing

The U.S. Congress is failing right before our eyes! As a first step to reform it, term limits are essential. President Trump can make it happen. But will he?

President Trump, be truly great! The path to greatness has already been shown to you (Donald Trump vs. Deng Xiaoping). For all our sake, please listen and just do it! For more, read my new book: American Democracy.