On the political scene - I solicit your input
It seems that a challenger is arising to face off against Senator Orrin Hatch. There are some good arguments for getting rid of Hatch as pointed out on the blog, Reach Upward. I know that some of you are rather biased, and I would like your ideas.
Personally, I think that there should be term limits for ALL senators! Tenure in the senate has become some false god to idolize. Few people are immune to the Washington Effect that turns good people into beaurocrats. I suggest that it may be time for new blood in the senate.
On a related issue, it's time to get rid of the enormous benefits enjoyed by national politicians. They serve their country...let them have the same medical benefits that our servicemen in the armed forces have. That's fair. Also, let's make sure they get social security like everyone else...then maybe they'll do something to fix it! Finally, why the heck should we continue paying a guy that no longer does any work? Let's make their wages commensurate with their attendance at meetings, and not pay them a cent once they're voted out. I'm sick and tired of padding the pocketbooks of worthless politicians!
posted by Nathan @ 11:13 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Still thinking it over... One thing I do wish to point out - one of Sen. Hatch's original campaign themes was term limits.
One big thing has to change first for me - the Senate seniority system.
This system is in large part responsible for who ends up where on important committees, and is the reason Robert Byrd (D-CSA) is the senior Democrat on the Appropriations committee and was chair of that comittee when the Dems were in the majority.
Which coincidentally is why West Virginia gets a disproportionate amount of almost every federal budget.
Since everything in the Senate depends on the seniority game, your state either gets screwed or you play the game. With Hatch in there, we can at least play the game.
This does not mean I like it - but I do not see a ready way around this problem. So leave Hatch in.
Get rid of them all! Limit to 3 terms. Get rid of the old-timers and there is no arbitrary seniority system to worry about.
I have to agree. I think that there should be term limits for both senators and congresmen. I would go even further to say that 6 years is to long and that it should be shortened to 4 years and have a max of 4 terms or 16 years.
Having been arround this my whole life, I am glad that my dad voluntarily left the senate. If he would have chosen to still run, there is no doubt that he would still be in there, and have more senority that Hatch. Life long politicians need to come to and end and we need term limits.
I disagree that seniority is all important in the Senate. Some freshman senators boast surprising accomplishments. Chairmanship of a committee doesn't necessarily redound to good for a senator's constituents. Hatch's tenure as Judiciary Committee chair garnered us the most dysfunctional committee in the senate. Stop worshipping at the altar of seniority and give Hatch the boot.
umm - hate to burst your bubble - but Senators do get Social Security.
Another benefit plan they get is the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is open to all people who work for the government. After 3 years, you're fully vested.
As for payments after they leave - it's not like they get the same salary once they leave - it's an urban legend - goto a website and check it out.
The payments they get are no different than a retirement, or pension plan - though, they do have the added benefit of automatic raises every year...
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcongress.htm
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