One and Done

It seems that the mid-term elections were held just last week and November 2012 is still more than a year away. Regardless, after affording us barely a chance to take a deep breath we are once again awash with debates, interviews, and commercials as Republican challengers for the White House reach full stride. Does it ever end?

I’ve long supported a one term, six year Presidency and wrote about it in my book. That format would require a Constitutional Amendment and what with today’s gridlock and bigger fish to fry, I hold out little hope that we’ll see such legislation proposed anytime soon. With that in mind, why don’t we take a wider view.

Throwing the bums out has always made for interesting political diatribes, but how about imposing a single term for all politicos at all levels. No need for additional legislation; we only need to refuse to vote for any incumbent at any time for any office. Howard Schultz, Starbuck’s CEO, has proposed that no one contribute to any political campaign until such time that Congress provides a comprehensive plan for deficit reduction. Why not build on that and eliminate donations altogether. True, some will still support favorite sons, but most cash streams will slow to a trickle.

And when election day comes around, we vote for anyone other than the incumbent. Think of it: soon our elected leaders will come to realize that their political “career” is severely limited and may well start doing their job instead of non-stop fund raising and campaigning.

The Founding Fathers assembled from different regions and vocations. And after serving their country for a period of time, they returned home and got on with their livelihoods. Isn’t it past time to ask our current politicians to do the same? They’ll resist, of course, and hope that after a few weeks we’ll be on to another pressing issue. After all, why expect them to limit their own futures?

And so it falls to us, you and I, to withhold our monies and our votes from any office holder regardless of how well of a job we think they’re doing. True, there are some shining examples of selfless individuals in politics, but the system is what we’re trying to change. And, to do that, we must clean house at every electoral opportunity regardless of our affection for a particular representative.

Perhaps, over time, a reinvented Congress will entertain a single term for the president and congressional personnel. (Senate and House seats could be staggered so a single state would not undergo complete change within one election.) No worries about re-election, no need to take time for campaigning, and fewer big bucks from lobbyists seeking access and special consideration.

C’mon folks: keep your money in your pockets and vote for someone new at every chance. There are daily pleas for politicos to put the nation ahead of personal advancement. Shouldn’t we put our country ahead of our personal favorites? We can change the way government works simply by changing the way we participate. To think that the powerful will voluntarily relinquish their grip on the reins of governance will only guarantee their continued job security.