Term Limits - and No Pensions - for Politicians

One of today's headlines involved the son of Rep. John Conyers.

Carl Conyers, age 21 and a student at the University of Houston, had gone missing for more than 24 hours. Thankfully, he has been found safe and unharmed.

What is not good news, however, is that his father has been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1964. That's right, folks; John Conyers has been on the public payroll for 52 years... and counting.

And guess what congressional district Conyers, age 87, has represented for the past five decades?  Michigan's 13th, which includes most of Detroit.

Yes, THAT Detroit which more closely resembles a bombed-out Berlin after World War II than it does a habitable place to live.

If there ever was a poster child for term limits, John Conyers is it!

Personally, I believe that 12 years should be the maximum time allowed for serving in Congress.  That would equate to six House terms or two Senate terms.  After that, it's time to go home and get a real job.

Of course, a member of the House could always serve for 12 years and then run for a Senate seat.  But there would be so many term-limited congressmen competing for that one position that it would virtually ensure that only the cream would rise to the top.

So 24 years - for a very select few - would be the maximum amount of government service allowable under my proposal.

Which begs the question, how do we force our elected officials to support term limits?  What would cause them to self-impose such restrictions... and put an end to the gravy train on which so many of them have been lifelong passengers?

Get rid of pensions for all politicians, that's what!

If government service is really that - a SERVICE - then it should not be considered a career.  And only careers should be rewarded with pensions.

My guess is that if you eliminated all pensions for elected officials, those in power wouldn't remain there long.  Make it illegal for them to become lobbyists after holding office and they would leave even sooner.

If we are really serious about draining the swamp in Washington, let's start with term limits and eliminating pensions for politicians... no exceptions!