Stage 7

            According to a poll taken on ISideWith.com, 11,217,255 voters agree on a term limit for congress. A term limit for congress may help keep members motivated while in office because the amount of time in which they can accomplish goals is compressed. Representatives tend to wait until reelection (knowing they’re likely to be reelected) to pass or pay notice to policies suggested by constituents as a method for securing their place. This process is fool-proof; by acting for the people just before election their positive support increases and ensures their seat for the next “term”.

            Longevity may have a direct influence on the amount of corruption experienced by office holders. As stated by Mike Gallagher, “I fundamentally do not believe that politicians who spend decades in the nation’s capital can change Washington before Washington changes them”. While our representatives begin to find themselves comfortable and secure in their seat they seem to develop a lackadaisical mindset on the concerns of the people.

            Ultimately we are left with a congress that only focuses on local issues to ensure their reelection–making national concerns a lesser priority and creating corruption as well as underrepresentation. Seemingly, the most plausible solution to an undetermined and corrupt congress is to provide motivation through horological pressure. If you don’t take your office and people’s voices seriously then you will fail to accomplish goals. If you are genuinely invested in your duty as a representative, then even with your time constraints, you will fuel your political ambition with your term limit and work for the people. Maybe a term limit will even inspire our representatives to work for the bigger picture and venture away from strictly local concerns.