Human Nature Always Rules Decision-Making
Human Default Setting
Term-limited elected officials would instinctively be less corrupt. This proposal is not about eliminating the overbearing, power hungry, dishonest, ruling class elitists, we can't; it is about never allowing them to be replaced. Since we can logically expect each of us, including new congressmen to act in his or her own self-interest, we can now expect that congressional interests and goals will be more similar to our own.
In the absence of a lifetime ruling position, and discounting the inevitable outright illegality and treachery of some, self-interest would generally suggest that a congressman would now support fiscally responsible national legislation as his default setting response, rather than trying to do the "most good for the most people".
Instead of being insulated from the financial havoc his votes cause, he would soon have to live, work and raise a family under the laws he helped to enact. He would instinctively champion smaller government and increased freedoms because he knows that he must soon return to live among us. Government would naturally become less significant in our everyday lives, more frugal, and who knows, maybe even the Fair Tax could be implemented.
Grandfather the current parasites. Yes they will temporarily have more power until they retire, which is why they may actually support it, but is more important that their constituents support it. We can be sure that they won't fight as hard against it only future legislators are affected. Sometimes we have to take a step backwards to take a giant leap forward, but only a little one here. The host body nation may initially suffer some hemorrhaging, but in time it will be gradually cleansed and purified.
Can a 20-year grandfathered congressman who has been kicked to the curb run again later? Yes. He is exempted. Keep in mind that in reality there isn't much chance of any veteran congressmen who has been beaten in an election of ever returning, there was a reason he lost. Though possible, it doesn't seem important enough to worry about. The amendment has to be simple enough for the poorly educated to understand without too much tinkering.
Although this is not an immediate remedy, it won't take as long as it may appear to work in our favor. With the combination of roughly from 6 - 8 -10% being rejected for re-election for some kind of scandal, theft or just plain being out-voted, and a few more retiring or dying every term, before we know it we will have nearly one-third of Congress on term limits. They will be our advocates rather than partners in crime with the old parasites. Between the new "temps" and the few honorable members remaining from the grandfather clause, not much more government induced economic harm will come to us. They may actually do some good again as was intended.
Mistakes will still be made
The newly elected term-limited congress will make mistakes of judgment, just like any human beings. It is also possible that some may try to grab as much as they can while they can because they know they can't stay, but this kind of semi-legal larceny will be more difficult to get away with as other members would now have a personal vested interest in stopping it rather than encouraging or joining in on it. We should be able to count on the new term-limited congress to at least begin to try to do the right thing more and more, rather than less and less.
Certainly there are other worthy constitutional amendments that would benefit our country. If we can accomplish term limits in this fashion, we may not need to force the others, they may be the natural result. The new term-limited congress will be more receptive to addressing our concerns because they will inherently have our interests at heart. They will be on the side of the American citizen and can be expected to do what is right to protect our freedoms and our economy.
To unconditionally and completely trust anyone in power is always a very dangerous mistake. We have to remain ever vigilant and take care that these new congressmen do the right things. For example, we can't allow lifetime pensions for 6 years of work. We can't allow them to vote themselves multi-million dollar pay raises. Everything can't be solved at once, but maybe we can go a long way towards renewed freedom by winning this important battle on term limits.
The left often argues that the U.S. Constitution may have been written by thoughtful, maybe even inspired men in the 1700's but they could not possibly have anticipated life in the 21st century. It is hard to argue with that. Liberals often use that logical reasoning to eradicate freedoms one by one for the alleged good of the many, usually increasing regulatory obligations or tax by citing someone's idea of "safety" or "fairness". We need to use that same reasonable argument to bring independence back.
Our founders never anticipated the coronation of lifetime politicians. However, the main reason for limiting these terms is not to try to maintain what our founders may have wanted, but simply because it is wrong to perpetuate such an unworkable system. To argue whether they would have limited terms or not had they recognized its evil is irrelevant. This is why we have the amendment remedy, and the state's right to implement it. It is to right such wrongs.
There exists the real possibility that a state originated constitutional convention could morph into an enormous basket of demands from the left, who believe that everyone is entitled to all wealth in the country, regardless of source, effort, ability, determination or sacrifice. We could go far a-field of the simple term limit proposal here attempting instead to institute new legal rights for all kinds of things like free health care, jobs, housing, food, heat, cable television, a new car every three years, a fish on every plate - which of course the "wealthy" will be forced to provide. Yes - this could happen, but it is a chance we have to take. If not, we will continue to be a nation of slaves lorded over by omnipotent rulers - or as the Russians described: proletariat and bourgeoisie.
Next: The Final Chapter