Before I get started on a simple way to clip the wings of the self-serving inept feeding at the trough of the American taxpayer. I want to begin with a point made by a long-time Webb Weekly reader. He asked me to research and share what a United States senator/representative receives for an operating budget. This would be for their D.C. and state offices, administration, clerical, and complete budgeted allowance. To summarize what the Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA) states — a senators’ allowance varies from $2,798,783 to $4,448,075 for a senator representing a state with a population of 28 million or more.
So, in addition to their $174,000 base salary, the best benefits package possible, ten paid holidays, and part-time hours at best, the elected have built themselves a system where they are given $2.7 million-plus a year for operating expenses. Unbelievable!
A tip of my Webb Weekly hat to John, a Vietnam Veteran, for his service to our Country and the intel he provided.
There is only one way for “We the People” to take our government back. Term limits! This applies not only to the elected but to those appointed. Case in point, there is no way a Supreme Court Justice should die on the bench long after they are competent. This is one of the most important jobs within the government regarding our very freedom and laws of the land. Term limits need to cover every position, including NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has served in this capacity for 37 years.
Before I get to my — you don’t have to go home, but you gotta get the heck up out of here — plan; let me tell you why it’s imperative to have term limits.
First and foremost, we are at the point in American history where the longest-serving have proven the current system doesn’t work. The current state of our Nation is the indisputable evidence that those that have served for decades are the problem, not a solution.
We must create the opportunity our founding fathers envisioned where anyone interested has the opportunity to run for office and serve our Nation. By having across-the-board term limits in place, more Americans — from every walk of life — will be involved in government, representing their state’s beliefs.
By opening up elected positions on a more regular basis through term limits, you create more opportunities for younger Americans to be involved. This is exactly what our Nation needs. More energy, new ideas, and understanding of what’s actually going on in the real world. The Nancy Pelosis and Mitch McConnells are so out of touch with the American people it makes me sick.
This leads us to what builds a championship athletic team, a profitable and successful business, and is necessary to reform the federal government. Competition! This will provide the best, most qualified, and hungry candidates for the job. It will demand a lean, mean, and more efficient form of national government.
It will increase accountability and deter complacency. The current system is too easy for the elected to deceive and be re-elected based upon seniority. This enables you to bring home the most loot to your state and local district, creating the vicious cycle of incumbency.
Term limits must not only apply to the elected and the appointed but to the staff. By having the proper system in place, reelection will be based upon office performance. This forces the person elected to choose more qualified staffing. Not just appointed people for political favor or correctness.
A simple system to provide this is already in place — that which governs the office of President of the United States. The length of a term is four years, and you’re allowed a maximum of two terms. The same term of opportunity should apply from the Oval Office right on down to the federal dog catcher. No questions asked.
The current term of a senator is six years; the current term of a Congressman is two years. A term of four years is a much more balanced length for judgment. Let’s be honest, two years isn’t enough, and six years is too long. Let the people decide. If you are doing a good job, you get re-elected. After eight years in one position, you can run or serve in another capacity.
For those that want to serve a lifetime for the American people, the opportunity is still there. You can serve at the local level, the state level, and then anywhere from 4 to 32 years as an elected official in Washington.
If you fail to get re-elected or elected in the first place, you can still serve the American people in an appointed position. There are over 4,000 appointed positions inside the beltway.
I’m sure there is one to match every seekers’ skill level or expertise. So, if your intentions are for the good and you want to work for “We the People” to make our Nation as strong as possible, the opportunity for a lifetime career is there.
The better job you do at any position, the greater the chances for reelection, reappointment, or to run for election. These opportunities were created through job performance and earned respect.
In 1995, 23 states had the opportunity to vote for term limits for elected officials. It passed in all 23 States.
Next week, I will cover why the vote of the American people was ignored, and just what it will take to shed some light on the implementation of term limits.
God Bless America.
1 comment
1 Comment
Jody Scott
March 8, 2021, 11:07 amYou hit it out of the ballpark!! Excellent article.
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