Term limits always sound good. I’ve lived in cities with term limits, and I can tell you that it didn’t make the legislative branch of the government more effective. Why term limits are a good idea Posted 9/1/2011 5:00 AM. Throwing Out the Baby With the Bathwater: Yes, term limits would help eliminate some of the corrupt, power-hungry and incompetent lawmakers, but it would also get rid of all the honest and effective ones. Term limits would reduce the chances of new members growing into the job and becoming better at it. Reasons (and benefits of) term limits include: 1. It made it less effective. The original article appeared in 2001, but it's as true today as it's ever been. Those who favor term limits say they would remove the intense focus on politics and place it back on policy. Term limits would reduce the chances of new members growing into the job and becoming better at it. But why are term limits a good idea? Ruling parties are able to cultivate new leadership which can carry on the successful policies of their former leaders, but also correct for past missteps. Politics ceases to be viewed as a zero-sum game. Lawrence W. Reed, writing for the Foundation for Economic Education, published a great answer to this question, and we've republished an excerpt below. Term limits serve as the best buffer to keep those career minded – if mediocre – political types, from gumming up the system. But for most Americans, term limits are a welcome check on authority.
But he won’t take it seriously. Which is why term limits are so very important. Why Term Limits are a Good Idea “No matter how passionately you might believe limiting people's choices will result in outcomes you like better, you are wrong,” writes libertarian, Jahfre Fire Eater in his opinion piece, “ Why Term Limits Are A Bad Idea .” (RRND, 4/2/13) Well, the farce in Washington is over. The thinking is that many lawmakers view the work as a career and not a temporary assignment, and therefore spend much of their time posturing, raising money for their re-election campaigns and running for office instead of focusing on the important issues of the day. Without having read the article, I think that term limits are dumb and undemocratic (their introduction in the US was viewed as a means for Republicans to prevent the re-emergence of another FDR, who successfully led the US through two crises).
By Stephen Kaufman. With term limits, transitions take place as a natural course of events in the democratic system. Term limits on presidents are a good thing.
The problem with the idea is that being a council member or a legislator is like any other job: you get better with experience. The concept of “president-for-life” appeals to some people. Term limits are intended to keep the board representative of and responsive to its community, aware of and implementing appropriate new strategies to meet the mission, and focused on what is best for the organization. Term Limits Uphold the Public Trust. Term limits are a very, very good thing for board members and for officers. But for most of us, term limits are a welcome check on authority. WHY CONGRESS NEEDS TERM LIMITS. Term limits always sound good. The concept of “president for life” might appeal to some people. Here’s why. Throwing Out the Baby With the Bathwater: Yes, term limits would help eliminate some of the corrupt, power-hungry and incompetent lawmakers, but it would also get rid of all the honest and effective ones. The problem with the idea is that being a council member or a legislator is like any other job: you get better with experience. President Obama likely will hear some supporters chant “Four more years!” at upcoming political events. Term limits are needed at all levels of government. Term limits have been approved almost everywhere they’ve been on the ballot because concerned citizens see them as a positive structural reform, a necessary step to change the incentives of legislators so they would think more about the good of their states and country and less about their next campaign. This is especially true if the limited amount of terms is as short as two-this means that for half his time in office, the leader has no incentive to act on behalf of the people, for they do not have the option of removing him.
With term limits, this benefit is eliminated on the president's last term, for he cannot stay in power regardless.