Once again we come upon the conundrum: "if your state legislator is open to bribery in one area, why wouldn’t he be in other areas? And why would you keep electing him?" When a legislator enters Congress making much less than $200,00/yr, but after just a short time in the position is now a multimillionaire, bribery is the proven culprit, that and insider trading (also illegal). I'm all for capitalism, but this is just wrong!!! Time for term limits. Get them ALL out!!!
Support an Article V Convention of States - term limits can only be imposed by the states in an amendment process, as Congress will never limit their own power and that includes overstaying their time in office ..
I understand the sentiment, but I do not agree. To limit terms is to limit senators and congressmen who are doing a good job—and more importantly, it limits the choice of the people.
Practically, it leaves the functioning of the government more and more in the hands of long-term, unelected bureaucrats advising freshmen politicians who do not have experience. It also encourages people to run who are more dedicated to private interests than to the people, seeing the role as a temporary access to legislative power to benefit their private interests.
I don’t have the solution, but doing away with the electoral collage is not something I support.
On the other hand I don’t think our government has ever been more corrupt than it has been the past 4 years. It seems they are almost all on the take. Including RINO uni-party long term old geezers like Mitch McConnell, and Chuck Schumer!
I know some great minds think the convention of states is the answer. I think Mark Levin may support that IIRC?
Anyway, better minds than me can figure it out.
Generally if the deep state is for it, I’m against it. Total corruption there.
Thank you again for an insightful civics lesson delivered in your usual clear language - these articles should be part of school curricula to be weighed and debated. Ignorance of our form of sadly government prevails.
A true democracy can, with too much ease, drift, or even - fall, into mob rule. Alexis de Tocqueville was right, the Tyranny of The Majority can be a thing of dread. Our Founding Fathers knew that and wisely established a republic form of government. May it ever endure. Thank you, Tara Ross, for this reminder.
Most definitely food for thought Tara. It seems some politicians are not happy until they receive those unintended consequences. What a wicked web we weave! 🤷
Interesting , I wonder how well the previous way senators were “ elected “ would work today imagine in Massachusetts where Democrats have controlled the state for 100 years , we are the most taxed least represented state in the nation equal to California on the west coast ! I think the more the people are involved in their representation the better off they will be. Thank you Tara for a great civics lesson .
Personally, I would like to see the 17th Amendment repealed. It has taken power away from the states and turned the Senate into a good old boys club. There may be women present as senators, but they are still just one of the good old boys. The only problem is they are not so good and are in it for wealth and power.
Agree completely. I wrote about this in April 2024 (https://jacksotallaro.substack.com/p/the-17th-amendment) and everything you say is true. Because state legislators were lazy or corrupt or both we've seen the states power decline as federal power increases. Corruption in one form or another is endemic in government and until we find a way to prevent it we will continue to have the problems caused by the 17th Amendment.
The electoral college has been misunderstood. The founders knew that this would be the only way for each vote to actually count. The coastal states should not have more to say about who is elected president than the "fly over" states. It works and works well. I wish we elected better Senators and if the states put each one up it might be better. The government was ment to be small in Washington DC it should be small again.
How many times has Congress enacted laws, statutes and used other means without regard to unintended consequences? Our Federal government has grown so behemoth that it’s become beyond the control of the states and therefore the people. Things are turning around, but it’s a painfully slow process. Hopefully, we’ll see success and once again, as in the beginning, our Republic will be of, by and for the people. The voice of the people has definitely been diminished.
To get to the 17th Amendment, it only took a few generations for the populous to forget that in 1787 each state was hyper protective of individual states rights. They had been 13 independent colonies and were used to making their own decisions about just about everything. The Constitutional Convention was behind closed doors for a good reason. The founders knew if what they were discussing got out each state would create an uproar. A big reason the Articles of Confederation didn't work was each state wanted things their way. At that time, it made sense to have Senators chosen by each state government, to provide a way for them to have a say in what transpired in the Federal Government. The 10th Amendment gave them that right and they weren't about to squander it. By 1913 the political thought process had changed enough to enact a change. One that would allow the country to slide down the slippery slope to where we are today. If the 10th Amendment were to be enforced as enacted, most of today's government agencies wouldn't exist.
On the surface it would seem that it makes little difference whether the States elect Senators or if the people do so. However, like with the Electoral College system, large population areas have more power than more rural areas. Before the 17th Amendment, the rural people had more ability to influence the election of their Senators than after the 17th Amendment was enacted.
Once again we come upon the conundrum: "if your state legislator is open to bribery in one area, why wouldn’t he be in other areas? And why would you keep electing him?" When a legislator enters Congress making much less than $200,00/yr, but after just a short time in the position is now a multimillionaire, bribery is the proven culprit, that and insider trading (also illegal). I'm all for capitalism, but this is just wrong!!! Time for term limits. Get them ALL out!!!
Yes!
Support an Article V Convention of States - term limits can only be imposed by the states in an amendment process, as Congress will never limit their own power and that includes overstaying their time in office ..
Agreed, John! It takes a huge majority of the states to enact this, but well worth our efforts.
I understand the sentiment, but I do not agree. To limit terms is to limit senators and congressmen who are doing a good job—and more importantly, it limits the choice of the people.
Practically, it leaves the functioning of the government more and more in the hands of long-term, unelected bureaucrats advising freshmen politicians who do not have experience. It also encourages people to run who are more dedicated to private interests than to the people, seeing the role as a temporary access to legislative power to benefit their private interests.
I don’t have the solution, but doing away with the electoral collage is not something I support.
On the other hand I don’t think our government has ever been more corrupt than it has been the past 4 years. It seems they are almost all on the take. Including RINO uni-party long term old geezers like Mitch McConnell, and Chuck Schumer!
I know some great minds think the convention of states is the answer. I think Mark Levin may support that IIRC?
Anyway, better minds than me can figure it out.
Generally if the deep state is for it, I’m against it. Total corruption there.
Bribing a politician is not capitalism, it's fraud.
Tara
Thank you again for an insightful civics lesson delivered in your usual clear language - these articles should be part of school curricula to be weighed and debated. Ignorance of our form of sadly government prevails.
A true democracy can, with too much ease, drift, or even - fall, into mob rule. Alexis de Tocqueville was right, the Tyranny of The Majority can be a thing of dread. Our Founding Fathers knew that and wisely established a republic form of government. May it ever endure. Thank you, Tara Ross, for this reminder.
I see why Congress wanted to take power away from state legislatures. I wished the people understood what they gave up!
Most definitely food for thought Tara. It seems some politicians are not happy until they receive those unintended consequences. What a wicked web we weave! 🤷
Interesting , I wonder how well the previous way senators were “ elected “ would work today imagine in Massachusetts where Democrats have controlled the state for 100 years , we are the most taxed least represented state in the nation equal to California on the west coast ! I think the more the people are involved in their representation the better off they will be. Thank you Tara for a great civics lesson .
Personally, I would like to see the 17th Amendment repealed. It has taken power away from the states and turned the Senate into a good old boys club. There may be women present as senators, but they are still just one of the good old boys. The only problem is they are not so good and are in it for wealth and power.
Agree completely. I wrote about this in April 2024 (https://jacksotallaro.substack.com/p/the-17th-amendment) and everything you say is true. Because state legislators were lazy or corrupt or both we've seen the states power decline as federal power increases. Corruption in one form or another is endemic in government and until we find a way to prevent it we will continue to have the problems caused by the 17th Amendment.
The electoral college has been misunderstood. The founders knew that this would be the only way for each vote to actually count. The coastal states should not have more to say about who is elected president than the "fly over" states. It works and works well. I wish we elected better Senators and if the states put each one up it might be better. The government was ment to be small in Washington DC it should be small again.
How many times has Congress enacted laws, statutes and used other means without regard to unintended consequences? Our Federal government has grown so behemoth that it’s become beyond the control of the states and therefore the people. Things are turning around, but it’s a painfully slow process. Hopefully, we’ll see success and once again, as in the beginning, our Republic will be of, by and for the people. The voice of the people has definitely been diminished.
Now you are my favorite civics teacher as well as history. Thanks Tara. I hope way more than us are reading and learning.
To get to the 17th Amendment, it only took a few generations for the populous to forget that in 1787 each state was hyper protective of individual states rights. They had been 13 independent colonies and were used to making their own decisions about just about everything. The Constitutional Convention was behind closed doors for a good reason. The founders knew if what they were discussing got out each state would create an uproar. A big reason the Articles of Confederation didn't work was each state wanted things their way. At that time, it made sense to have Senators chosen by each state government, to provide a way for them to have a say in what transpired in the Federal Government. The 10th Amendment gave them that right and they weren't about to squander it. By 1913 the political thought process had changed enough to enact a change. One that would allow the country to slide down the slippery slope to where we are today. If the 10th Amendment were to be enforced as enacted, most of today's government agencies wouldn't exist.
Thank you, Tara.
On the surface it would seem that it makes little difference whether the States elect Senators or if the people do so. However, like with the Electoral College system, large population areas have more power than more rural areas. Before the 17th Amendment, the rural people had more ability to influence the election of their Senators than after the 17th Amendment was enacted.
Thank you Tara.
As it should be. By the People, for the people, with the people.
Great sharing on our republic! Thank you, Tara!