Term Limits: A Pyrrhic Victory

 

With the clamor for term limits for nearly every elected official, know this. If we win this battle, it will be a Pyrrhic Victory.

Why?

We have always had term limits. It is called the right to vote. Then why do we have career politicians?

We as the electorate have become lazy. That’s not quite true. We have become very lazy, sloth like in our civic duties.

We have always been able to vote out those who serve themselves more than they serve the people and our national interests. We just didn’t do it.

Representative government—our republic—takes work for everyone of voting age. It takes education. It takes discipline.

That’s right, the preservation of liberty requires discipline as a standing quality of the electorate.

So, why are term limits not a true victory? They are a placebo for diligence and discipline. We think that our work is done by enacting term limits when in fact it only changes the playing field.

Those seeking to gain and retain power will find a way. Those desiring to return to comfort and complacency thinking the work is done will be easily duped.

The electorate must have the same gusto for the preservation of liberty and accountability of elected officials as those seeking office do for power.

Our discipline must meet or exceed the desire of the power seekers. Our return on investment is accountable and continued representation. It’s tough to maintain motivation for that on an ongoing basis.

Feathering your own nest under the guise of public service comes equipped with its on motivation, usually greed.

Should we not seek term limits?

Let’s do this as we would take a steroid shot to overtake our immune system momentarily until our natural immunities can catch up, but they must catch up.

Term limits are an interim measure. Diligence and discipline are the solution. This government of the people and by the people will only be for the people if the people are diligent.

This self-government business is tough business. It takes work not just every couple of years but on an ongoing basis.

It’s no wonder that such governments struggle to continue, but they can continue and even thrive if we put in the work.

Let’s make term limits happen and then take hold of our electoral duties as if our nation depended on it. It does.