RE: Term Limits

[skoob6969]

also What exactly happened in california?

[kenrg]

Term limits got rid of one crop of unpopular politicians, but did nothing to change the system that got us into trouble in the first place. The new crop turned out to be clones of the previous crop, just with more ineptitude.

[skoob6969]

I agree but that takes away from the real problem electing people who have the publics interest as a priority. And the publics responcibility to elect them.

If we do not get people engaged special interest will do as they please.

[kenrg]

Absolutely, there are real measures we can take to open up the system, get more people involved, and return democracy to the people.

[solidkwon]

amazing video. I can't find a way to disagree with any of your points. Perhaps I'm biased though because I'm also non-affiliated with either of the two parties and hate the whole 5% deal with the Indepedent Party. That makes our political system so unfree and unrepresentative but yea, there are so many other systematic things to fix and just placing an end-all solution like term limits just does not help. Great vlog.

[kenrg]

Thank you - Freedom and representation... great ideas that we'll hopefully achieve some day.

[ThOverdrive]

I would say copy Canada like you are with health care, but I like your political system down there better (with the exception of there only being two possible leaders who seem to have ultimate power)

[kenrg]

It's the choice of only two that I resent - term limits do nothing to help that; systemic reform does. Thanks for the comment.

[ThOverdrive]

I agree. Actually both of your leaders down there are far more conservative then any of our leaders up here. lol but our ones up here tend to be a joke. When I saw that it was a big deal some guy called Obama a liar I lmao...up here its like a drinking game.

[wogsland]

My rep is a bum & I will definitely be voting against him in 2010.

[kenrg]

But will you be running against him? Sorry, I shouldn't be giving you any bad ideas.

[wogsland]

No, I think the best option for any state is to leave the Union. I may campaign for his opponent if he's an honest fellow though...

[Squishykinss]

I call my representative and congressman everyday about HR5843. Have them saved in my cell phone. I think what people expect is for their representative to come contact THEM to see what they want. It's an easy way to change how they listen. They're interns keep a tally of how many people call for what things and if you want to sway their vote, just call them, leave a *nice* message about that, and then ask for a response. I've got a stack of papers from my representatives lol :3

[kenrg]

Yep - The representatives themselves often say they're not swayed by the numbers of calls or letters, but every single aide I've known (whether local, state, or fed) has kept those tally sheets and assured me that, yes, the number of calls do matter!

[andymooseman]

Nice trees :)

[kenrg]

Thanks!

[PappyStu]

"Rare Good Rep"... veg

Human nature being the biggest obstacle, until we eliminate individual entittlement politics where each and everyone of us sits in the nest like baby Robins opening our mauws as wide as we can, corrupt politicians will continue spending other people's money... wait... our money... Term limits just determine how long they have to belly up to the trough

[kenrg]

Okay, it only changes "how long they have to belly up to the trough" (brilliant, LOL) - which is why term limits won't really change a thing. It's building a new trough that limits the flow of feed that we should be after!

[qiranger]

1 Term. Period... Most politicians spend most of their time in office trying to stay in office rather than actually doing the work they need they were sent to do.

[kenrg]

But, if you want them to be responsive to the people, won't a legislature where everybody is a lame duck have the direct opposite result? If not a single member can run again, what incentive is there for them to listen to the voters?

[qiranger]

I doubt it. It would eliminate the people running for office who wish to use it for power and leave the ones in office that actually want to serve.

[Flipself]

This is one of they more important points i guess, one you also mentioned in the vid. However being able to run again might also prevent politicians from making impopular but necessary decisions. This doesn't overrule your point. There are just more sides to the argument. As long as people are only a little selfish no system is going to be perfect. An ideal system would give selfish people an icentive to work for the general good. But since we're not all on the same page on what that is...

[blackturtleshow]

Interesting discussion. I have to agree that the system works against third parties. The catch-22 you described works to the advantage of the established parties, that's for sure! Those with power tend to protect their power and it's hard to imagine how any system could put an end to that human tendency!

[kenrg]

No change is going to end that tendency and natural human desire to hold on to power once won, but we can do a much better job of balancing it and limiting its influence.

[achampag]

took me a minute to find out who mine is now, given the move. i dont know anything about him.

[kenrg]

And he's probably counting on that ;^)

[achampag]

lol yeah, lawd help him if i find his phone number

[NiteBlogger]

How 'bout making it illegal for politicians to sleep with lobbyists?

[kenrg]

They'll just find a way around that. How about forced sterilization and neutering for anybody who wins an election? Naaa, they'll find some way around that too.

[NiteBlogger]

Or how about more transparency in government and if they get caught with their hand in the "cookie jar" they have to wear a big sandwich sign that states their offense - I vote with one side of my mouth - "being gay is not okay" and live out the other "I got caught"

Ken - I DO agree with you on term limits - btw great vid...gets the marble rolling 'round a bit more in the old noggin...

[achampag]

love ockteby.

[kenrg]

He's great, and even when I disagree with him, he made a fantastic vlog. I appreciate being able to have a serious discussion like this, each sharing our point-of-view, without disrespect or name-calling on either side.

[captainfury2007]

I am a centerist. A lot of people claim that, but I actually took a test to see what my political alignment is. Dead center. Do you know what centerists cant tolerate? Political party intolerance. I watched the other video as well. Its nice to see an intelligent debate rather than the Chicken Little accusations flying around. 5 stars

[kenrg]

Thanks - You hit on a key point of the debate: term limits are usually supported by the out party. I've been against them even when I've despised the people in power. Set up an impartial system and then, win or lose, you know you won or lost fairly. While my politics are definitely left-of-center, my over-all orientation is toward system change and a broader conversation.

[Nuolimieli]

fiksua tekstiä ^^

Always nice to see one of these vlogs

[kenrg]

Thanks!

[exit32calibratingsnd]

Study the Crusades. You'll learn a lot about how this problem has continued for almost a thousand years. It's pretty interesting how many similarities there are between the government then and the government now.

[kenrg]

It's a problem that's always been around, and always will be: How do you have strong leaders who will protect your interests against other's strong leaders, without giving them so much power that they turn against you?

[Momotaro15]

Ha Ha! I was raised in a family that was divided. My dad was democrat, and my mom was republican. They would cancel each other out when they would vote. Ha! I started out as a republican...but changed to democrate. But, I wish that that concept would change....I don't like "parly" voting...but rather voting for who you think could do the job best. I really don't understand the concept of "party". I don't like it.

[kenrg]

Agreed - One term I hate is "bi-partisan" - It's supposed to be so inclusive and impartial, but the "bi" part of it limits the conversation to the big two, and most topics have far more than two broadly drawn points-of-view.

[thizizliz]

Throwing the bums out just gave us new inexperienced bums. Oh, you just said that. Yeah, lame duck reps care less than one who is up for re-election. On the other hand, I think I like term limits for governor - no one should be the top dog for too long. Great vlog - valid, clear and free of vitriol. Well done.

[kenrg]

Thanks - Actually, I sort of agree. I'd hate to lose the two-term limit for President, and I can see a similar argument when it comes to Governor. But rotating legislators has been a huge disaster.

[ockteby]

Absolutely delightful and excellent video, Ken you almost convinced me.

Thank you very much for this video response.

Frank.

[kenrg]

".. almost convinced..." - Missed it by *that* much! LOL

Oh well, think it over. The better answer is rarely the easier one. Term limits are easy; systemic reform is a bitch.

[OhCurt]

5:39 - they may also be thinking about scoring some anonymous sex in the public restrooms.

Just sayin'.

9:38 - Do we ever hear about the few who "actually do work for us"...? Suddenly I can't think of the last time I heard about someone in office in CA who was doing a good job.

[kenrg]

Anonymous sex in public restrooms is important. Whether you're in office or not.

As for those who "work for us" - I've known personally known several people who were great serving at a certain level (be it city, county, or state assembly) who then got caught up in the musical chairs and completely lost their ability to do anything for their communities.

[OhCurt]

Politics and corporate America... they sound so similar.

Wait... never mind. I was foolish enough to think for half a second that they might be two separate entites. HA!

Me so silly.

[jrsnyderjr]

My standard answer for this has stayed the same over time: we have term limits, it's called an election.

A huge component of Arizona's difficult budget negotiations is because we passed term limits (for a similar reason as California). This past general election the entire legislature was new. This was the worst possible time to have members of the political class who have never served in the legislature.

absolutely agree.

[kenrg]

Thanks, friend. I don't see this as a left or right issue, I see it as a practical systemic one. The people pushing term limits are those who gain by them: the hidden powers (lobbyists, political consultants, corporations, etc.).

[jrsnyderjr]

You know you hit a point that in each sides passion for it's point of view, the pragmatic, administrative, systematic issues get tangled up in what should be easily agreed upon points of procedure and substance.

lobbyists, political consultants, corporations, etc. are a quasi-fourth branch of government and it's bigger than me, which is what scares me.