The Heller Poll: Would you vote to get rid of Michigan's term limits?

8 Comments

  • Peggy Ives - 14 years ago

    New reps spend a year learing the ropes, then a year fundraising to be reelected. The next two years are spent lining up a job, because they can't run again. They do not have time to deal with any issues in depth.

  • activist rookie - 14 years ago

    I use to think term limits were a good thing until I became involved in a state political issue this past year. I have found that legislators who are limited out feel they can do whatever they want because they can't run for office again. They are not as responsive to the people.

  • JustThinking - 14 years ago

    What is the problem with Term Limits! The President of the United States is Term Limited. There should be a limit to the amount a time the person can serve as an elected official because of the politics involved in longevity. In order to stay in office many trades that are made to favor a "pleasent work environment" that don't necessary benefit the people the officials were elected to represent. I take issue with this statement: "Term limits limit the effectiveness of legislators, who need time to learn the ropes, gain policy acumen and build relationships with each other and with executive branch personnel whom they must oversee. Because of term limits, legislators are more dependent than ever on lobbyists for specialized information. " I am an informed citizen without the help of lobbyist. Lobbyist are a convienant means of information; but a true willingness to serve should cause the offical VERIFY information from any source. Just my thoughts.

  • Mark Steckloff - 14 years ago

    Term limits limit the effectiveness of legislators, who need time to learn the ropes, gain policy acumen and build relationships with each other and with executive branch personnel whom they must oversee. Because of term limits, legislators are more dependent than ever on lobbyists for specialized information. They are also weaker relative to the bureaucracy they are supposed to oversee, but there has been less oversight of the executive branch since term limits became effective.

  • Paul - 14 years ago

    Contrary to the claim that term limits are good for democracy, they actually limit the effect an elected official can have and give strength to unelected party officials and legislative aids. If we look to our founding Fathers, not only did they not institute term limits, but they also did not allow for the direct election of the electors for the president, let alone the president himself. The founding fathers did not think the general population was intelligent enough to determine things for themselves, so the tried to separate them from the legislative process.

    The failure of term limits (and it has failed) is that good legislators are forced to leave and are often replaced by party loyalist or those who do not understand the legislative process. Andrew Jackson, in his run for the presidency, did not believe the people always knew what was right, but he felt was their right to get what they wanted anyway! I feel the same way on term limits, I may not feel you are competent in your choice to re-elect your current legislator, but you should have the right to do it anyway!

  • Garry Viele - 14 years ago

    Term Limits, even though pundits and politicians don't like them, are a means of saving democracy. The old view that 'the voters can simply vote them out, obviously did not work. I don't believe Thomas Jefferson would have liked a

    Legislator for life fixation,

    such as we had prior to approving term limits. Look to our Founding Fathers. They had the right Idea!

  • portagejlh - 14 years ago

    Term limits are necessary - would love to see them at the National level in the House and Senate. Members are so old and set in their ways it's no wonder change takes so long or never gets done! Maybe 4 years isn't long enough, I might agree to 10 - but the 65 to 80 somethings really need to move on! Please don't give me the discrimination bull, I'm almost 65 myself! Fresh ideas please, not the same old thoughts and favors due.

  • Stefbob - 14 years ago

    Term limits are DUMB. Elections 'limit the damage', and we have recall powers if we need them. Arbitrary term limits take the option of keeping decent and effective politicians (yes, I know that may be an oxymoron but I can think of at least one person I wanted to keep in Michigan office who was term-limited out).

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