The United States needs to set term limits on the basis of age for Congress and the President.
70+ year olds are frequently regarded as unemployable due to mental decline and disconnect with the current times, but a high number of them are serving as politicians in the United States. The oldest sitting Senator, Senator Feinstein is 88 and has served since 1992. Over twenty members of the Senate are in their 70s. President Biden is 78 years old, and his health and mental prowess are the subject of continuous scrutiny. The most extreme example, Senator Thurmond, served for just short of 50 years until he passed away at 100. Currently, the average age of House members is ~58 years old and that of the Senate is ~63 years old. Contrast this with the average age of the American citizen, ~38 years old.
All too often members of Congress demonstrate their age and disconnect with the times when they must talk about social media, tech, the internet, etc. with tech giants during hearings on the Hill.
Term limits would prevent leaders from turning holding office into a career, spending upwards of 30-40 years serving in office and hanging on until they can barely function in an official capacity. Term limits would bring new and fresh perspectives into Congress. Limiting time in office would also hinder the development of permanent relationships among politicians and interest groups/lobbyists. Yes, they would still occur, but they would come to an end once the official’s term expired.
I recognize the increased turnover would lead to a larger number of politicians who are not as familiar with the legislative process as someone who has been in the office for over a decade. But wouldn’t this also provide a motivation to train their successors and offer apprenticeship/mentorship opportunities like that seen in other communities?
We have minimum age requirements for someone to serve in the House, Senate, or presidency, so why shouldn’t we create a maximum? Mandatory retirement was ended for most professions with exceptions, such as the military, pilots, and law enforcement. But does representing the U.S. as a politician require less mental prowess than flying a plane?
Any change would require a constitutional amendment, which I never see happening.
Will someone please explain how this isn’t seen as super egregious by the taxpayer.
I understand they also do legislating, but running a campaign for president is a big job and representatives are most likely neglecting some duties to campaign more, I may be wrong though.
Let me know thanks.
by Julia Conley, staff writer (commondreams.org)
" At more than 500 rallies planned for Tuesday evening, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to call on the U.S. House to vote to impeach President Donald Trump.
The rallies will take place at congressional offices and other public spaces, the night before the House is expected to vote on two articles of impeachment accusing Trump of abusing his power when he pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and obstructing Congress by stonewalling its investigation.
"The facts are uncontested," organizers said Saturday. "An extensive investigation turned up phone records, transcripts, and first hand witness testimony that prove Trump demanded Ukraine interfere in the 2020 election on his behalf before he’d give them critical military aid or a White House meeting."
"Americans from California to West Virginia are ready to hold their representatives accountable and declare that no one—not even the president—is above the law," they added.
At least 527 events were planned for 5:30pm local time on Tuesday, with people in every state in the nation planning to rally.
NEWS: This Tuesday, December 17, there will be nationwide rallies calling on Congress to Impeach & Remove Donald Trump.
Sign up for one of the 450+ rallies happening in all 50 states at https://t.co/wQHfGSXJbu pic.twitter.com/rVcdV3mLNF
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) December 14, 2019
The "Nobody Is Above the Law" coalition, which includes CREDO Action, Indivisible, and Public Citizen, reported that more than 100,000 people had RSVP'd to the events.
On Twitter, MoveOn posted a video featuring people who plan to attend the rallies explaining why they are urging the House to vote to impeach the president.
More than 100,000 people are hitting the streets to demand Congress #impeach & remove Trump!
Sign up to be part of these historic nationwide rallies at https://t.co/wQHfGSXJbu pic.twitter.com/CbMD9n8i94
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) December 12, 2019
"We must impeach and remove Trump because he and his administration are unchecked and unbalanced," said one participant. "He has betrayed the oath he took to protect and defend the Constitution."
"It's on us, the people, to protect our democracy," said another. "Congress will only act is we the people demand it."
While there has been large increases in income inequality, student loan debt, and national debt, as well as a decrease in upward mobility and life expectancy (in certain groups), capitalism is the best "bad choice" when looking at other forms of government and economic systems, for the "average" person. In capitalism, a worker has the choice of which company to work for or if they choose to start their own business, because the state does not have a monopoly on production. This freedom forces those in power to consider rights of workers and consumers. While fascism may allow for faster resource allocation, many have argued that it ultimately leads to scapegoating of minority groups, which destabilizes society and often ends in violence. Anarchy suffers from the inability to hold liable "bad actors".
The 2016 Colorado General Assembly just got underway this past Wednesday. The state legislature now has 120 days to get a lot of work done. The past few years I’ve served as the one of the legislature’s leading authorities on the laws and regulations implementing the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana. This year there will be a bills regarding the establishment of Cannabis Clubs, allowing sick kids who use medical marijuana to attend school, directing marijuana tax dollars to mental health and adding PTSD to the list of covered conditions for medical marijuana.
I also care a lot about improving transparency and efficiency in government. And then there’s the very important work of getting our state budget balanced and working for everyone.
Let's blaze this trail together Colorado. Ask me anything.
Here’s proof I’m actually here with you all today: http://imgur.com/wt6GLkJ
EDIT: Hey folks, I have to run to some meetings (some on this very issue). Keep posting your questions and hopefully we'll continue to hash out the issues this weekend. Thank YOU!
Hello r/Ohio!
We are u/PariahDog119 and u/El_Chapotato, members of the House of Representatives in the Model United States Government (r/ModelUSGov) on Reddit. Together, we represent Ohio; u/PariahDog119 represents the Fifth District (Northern Ohio,) and u/El_Chapotato represents the Sixth District (Southern Ohio,) of the model state of Great Lakes (which includes much of the Midwest, and in inexplicably referred to as “Model Central State.”)
About the simulation:
We hold mock elections which real Redditors vote in, for both federal and state government positions. There are six states, for simplicity, each comprising multiple real-life states. Senators and the President are elected almost normally, although we use a transferable vote, but because districts are hard to simulate on such a scale, we Representatives are elected quite differently: each party primary determines a list of candidates, voters vote for the party list, and the number of votes for each party determine how many members are elected from that party. This is known as the D'hondt method.
We will serve two month terms, during which we will submit and debate bills just like the real Congress. One notable difference is that we have multiple parties, due to the voting reforms. The Socialist Party currently has a plurality in both houses of Congress, and they hold the White House as well.
About us:
u/PariahDog119 is a second term Congressman from the Libertarian Party, and focused on criminal justice reform, writing a bill to block federal funding for SORN grants to states which place minors on the sex offender registry for taking selfies or having consensual sex with each other (adding a “Romeo and Juliet” clause,) and co-writing a bill to block prisons from using inmates as virtually free labor without paying them a fair wage. This term I plan to continue by requiring prisons to allow competition in inmate phone calls to prevent price gouging and kickbacks, and fighting the Socialist agenda that tries to limit the freedom and liberty of Americans.
u/El_Chapotato is a first term Congressman from the Liberal Party. He is also a member of /r/CMHOC (Canada Model House of Commons,) where he serves as the Deputy Speaker, and /r/MHolyrood (Scottish Parliament.) He also served as a state assemblyman in the previous term, and was elected Speaker. El_Chapotato is deeply passionate about transport, infrastructure and holding the government accountable in favour of fair policy.
W
... keep reading on reddit ➡###H.Res.3
##A Resolution Authorizing and Appointing Managers of the House of Representatives for the Trial of Donald John Trump, President of the United States
Resolved, The House of Representatives hereby appoints the following individuals to serve as impeachment managers on behalf of the House of Representatives’ exhibition of the article of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States: Rep. u/Gryph25, Rep. u/JohnGRobertsJr., Mr. u/Darthholo, and Mr. u/KellinQuinn__
Resolved, The House of Representatives hereby appoints Mr. u/KellinQuinn__ to serve as lead manager of the house managers in their exhibition of the article of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States.
Resolved, The House designates the above managers to communicate to the Secretary of the Senate that these following appointments have been made. Further, so the managers may, in connection to the preparation and conduct of the trial, exhibit the articles of impeachment to the Senate and take all other actions necessary, which may include the following:
Employing any legal, clerical, and any assistants the managers may require. To be paid from the applicable accounts of the Committee on Social Concerns and the Judiciary. Sending for individuals, papers, and any communications or filings with the Secretary of the Senate, on the part of the House of Representatives, in any connection to the exhibition of the articles of impeachment that the managers consider necessary.
This Resolution was written by u/KellinQuinn__ (D-WS)
This Resolution was sponsored by Speaker of the House u/Brihimia (D-US)
This Resolution was Co-Sponsored by Rep. u/Trans_Reagan (D-GA-1), House Majority Leader. u/ItsZippy23 (D-AC-1), Rep. u/Stephen29 (D-US)
Ken Calvert, 42nd
Mike Garcia, 25th
Darrell Issa, 50th
Doug LaMalfa, 1st
Kevin McCarthy, 23rd
Devin Nunes, 22nd
Jay Obernolte, 8th
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html
