One Generation Term Limits for U.S. Senate, Congress, and Supreme Court
The Issue
These days it seems our country is more divided than ever. Could the lack of humility and generosity of our many leaders be part of the problem? If so, there is something we can, and should, do about it. Perhaps our leaders should follow the example set by our most accomplished veteran ever? Please read, and if you agree, sign and share. Let’s make our leaders, for a change, bring us together as a nation, rather than separate us!
Apparently, A Very Hard Act (of Generosity) To Follow
224 years ago, our nation's most accomplished veteran and its very first President, George Washington, set a noble—and at the time, revolutionary—example for our country’s leaders when he stepped down after just two terms. Although many of his day desperately wanted this man of great experience and success to continue serving his young country, Washington wisely knew that this nation did not need a king to thrive.
As a result, to this day in even the most contentious and turbulent of times, we can always count on all U.S. Presidents to respectfully, and usually gratefully, step down after a maximum of 8 years (two terms). Thank you, President Washington, for setting that very important, and unifying, precedent. And thanks to the 22nd Amendment (ratified in 1951) for making that term limit official.
Today, one only wishes such noble and generous character could be attributed to our other national leaders, who have all too often behaved like they are the elected and/or appointed Dukes, Duchesses and Royal Court of this country. Unlike Washington, they seem to quickly, and permanently, fall in love with the trappings of their offices and rarely give power back to the American people.
Some of the more egregious past and present examples (sadly, there are many more) include:
Current Longest Serving Senator – 45 years in U.S. Senate
Current Longest Serving Congressperson – 47 years in U.S. House of Representatives
Current Longest Serving SCOTUS Judge – 28 years as U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Longest Serving Senator in U.S. History – 51 years
Longest Serving House Representative in U.S. History – 59 years
Longest Serving Supreme Court Justice in U.S. History – 36 years
This temptation to stay in power is not, and never has been, partisan: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, “Conservatives”, and “Liberals” alike have played this game throughout our nation’s history and continue to do so. Leaving aside our individual political preferences, to ensure our leaders behave as nobly and generously as Washington first did, clearly there should be term limits set for all these people, regardless of how well-intentioned and capable they at first seem.
Do they have or know something that George Washington did not? As America's poet laureate Robert Frost once observed, not likely: "I often say of George Washington that he was one of the few in the whole history of the world who was not carried away by power.” Exemplary as he was, history has shown us that Washington’s wonderful example was unfortunately not enough to temper our leaders’ thirst for power. Like the 22nd Amendment, we need something more official for that.
Term limits for those in power at the national level would not only help us all work together and search for more common ground. They would also encourage us to treat one another better as fellow citizens, confident that while we may disagree over our current leaders and their ideas, soon enough there will be an opening and another opportunity for someone else to serve, and perhaps better, represent us and/or defend our rights.
This hope for opportunity just around the corner increases our faith in our system of government, which in turn inspires us to be more charitable towards one another as fellow citizens. The same hope, faith, and charity that the Presidential (Executive) term limits inspire, would no doubt result from similar term limits for our leaders in the federal Legislative and Judicial branches.
It is time for a truly needed, long overdue, and helpful U.S. Constitutional Amendment—18 Year Term Limits for U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, and U.S. Supreme Court.
Why 18 years? That is the age when Americans citizens can legally vote, and as such should be considered one generation. The span of one full generation of Americans is more than enough time for any good leader or judge to figure out how to help our country. Yet it is not so long that they become entrenched, corrupted, and an obstacle to needed reform for the next generation.
It may not be in their interest for them to limit their own power, but with enough signatures it will become abundantly clear to them all that it is in our interest that they give power, and hope, back to the American people, just as George Washington did.
Legend has it that King George III of England once asked his American painter, Benjamin West, what Washington would do after winning independence. West replied (perhaps, proudly inside), “They say he will return to his farm.” The incredulous monarch, who clearly expected Washington to behave as all victorious kings do—and seize more power for himself—said in reply: “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Well, not only did Washington return that power then as our nation’s first victorious Commander In Chief, but he did so again after serving as our first President.
If it was good enough for a man such as George Washington to give power back to his people—twice—it should be good enough for all our national leaders. Let us put power back in the hands of the people and bring some hope, faith, charity (and unity) back to our land.
Let us prove the skeptics wrong. America isn’t finished yet, and our system isn’t permanently broken.
With enough support throughout our great and promising land, we can take the signatures of citizens nationwide to our Senators and Congresspersons so they pass a U.S. Constitutional Amendment for term limits that would benefit all Americans.
Remember, not too long ago an Amendment was passed to make Washington’s generosity official for all our Presidents. And that didn’t cheapen the Executive branch. In fact, if anything, it increased our faith in that noble institution. It can happen again to our other leaders without cheapening the Legislative and Judicial branches.
Sign today for 18-year term limits for all U.S. Senators, U.S. Congresspersons, and U.S. Supreme Court Justices! And please share!
Picture: Quote from George Washington's First Inaugural Address, 1789
The Issue
These days it seems our country is more divided than ever. Could the lack of humility and generosity of our many leaders be part of the problem? If so, there is something we can, and should, do about it. Perhaps our leaders should follow the example set by our most accomplished veteran ever? Please read, and if you agree, sign and share. Let’s make our leaders, for a change, bring us together as a nation, rather than separate us!
Apparently, A Very Hard Act (of Generosity) To Follow
224 years ago, our nation's most accomplished veteran and its very first President, George Washington, set a noble—and at the time, revolutionary—example for our country’s leaders when he stepped down after just two terms. Although many of his day desperately wanted this man of great experience and success to continue serving his young country, Washington wisely knew that this nation did not need a king to thrive.
As a result, to this day in even the most contentious and turbulent of times, we can always count on all U.S. Presidents to respectfully, and usually gratefully, step down after a maximum of 8 years (two terms). Thank you, President Washington, for setting that very important, and unifying, precedent. And thanks to the 22nd Amendment (ratified in 1951) for making that term limit official.
Today, one only wishes such noble and generous character could be attributed to our other national leaders, who have all too often behaved like they are the elected and/or appointed Dukes, Duchesses and Royal Court of this country. Unlike Washington, they seem to quickly, and permanently, fall in love with the trappings of their offices and rarely give power back to the American people.
Some of the more egregious past and present examples (sadly, there are many more) include:
Current Longest Serving Senator – 45 years in U.S. Senate
Current Longest Serving Congressperson – 47 years in U.S. House of Representatives
Current Longest Serving SCOTUS Judge – 28 years as U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Longest Serving Senator in U.S. History – 51 years
Longest Serving House Representative in U.S. History – 59 years
Longest Serving Supreme Court Justice in U.S. History – 36 years
This temptation to stay in power is not, and never has been, partisan: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, “Conservatives”, and “Liberals” alike have played this game throughout our nation’s history and continue to do so. Leaving aside our individual political preferences, to ensure our leaders behave as nobly and generously as Washington first did, clearly there should be term limits set for all these people, regardless of how well-intentioned and capable they at first seem.
Do they have or know something that George Washington did not? As America's poet laureate Robert Frost once observed, not likely: "I often say of George Washington that he was one of the few in the whole history of the world who was not carried away by power.” Exemplary as he was, history has shown us that Washington’s wonderful example was unfortunately not enough to temper our leaders’ thirst for power. Like the 22nd Amendment, we need something more official for that.
Term limits for those in power at the national level would not only help us all work together and search for more common ground. They would also encourage us to treat one another better as fellow citizens, confident that while we may disagree over our current leaders and their ideas, soon enough there will be an opening and another opportunity for someone else to serve, and perhaps better, represent us and/or defend our rights.
This hope for opportunity just around the corner increases our faith in our system of government, which in turn inspires us to be more charitable towards one another as fellow citizens. The same hope, faith, and charity that the Presidential (Executive) term limits inspire, would no doubt result from similar term limits for our leaders in the federal Legislative and Judicial branches.
It is time for a truly needed, long overdue, and helpful U.S. Constitutional Amendment—18 Year Term Limits for U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, and U.S. Supreme Court.
Why 18 years? That is the age when Americans citizens can legally vote, and as such should be considered one generation. The span of one full generation of Americans is more than enough time for any good leader or judge to figure out how to help our country. Yet it is not so long that they become entrenched, corrupted, and an obstacle to needed reform for the next generation.
It may not be in their interest for them to limit their own power, but with enough signatures it will become abundantly clear to them all that it is in our interest that they give power, and hope, back to the American people, just as George Washington did.
Legend has it that King George III of England once asked his American painter, Benjamin West, what Washington would do after winning independence. West replied (perhaps, proudly inside), “They say he will return to his farm.” The incredulous monarch, who clearly expected Washington to behave as all victorious kings do—and seize more power for himself—said in reply: “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Well, not only did Washington return that power then as our nation’s first victorious Commander In Chief, but he did so again after serving as our first President.
If it was good enough for a man such as George Washington to give power back to his people—twice—it should be good enough for all our national leaders. Let us put power back in the hands of the people and bring some hope, faith, charity (and unity) back to our land.
Let us prove the skeptics wrong. America isn’t finished yet, and our system isn’t permanently broken.
With enough support throughout our great and promising land, we can take the signatures of citizens nationwide to our Senators and Congresspersons so they pass a U.S. Constitutional Amendment for term limits that would benefit all Americans.
Remember, not too long ago an Amendment was passed to make Washington’s generosity official for all our Presidents. And that didn’t cheapen the Executive branch. In fact, if anything, it increased our faith in that noble institution. It can happen again to our other leaders without cheapening the Legislative and Judicial branches.
Sign today for 18-year term limits for all U.S. Senators, U.S. Congresspersons, and U.S. Supreme Court Justices! And please share!
Picture: Quote from George Washington's First Inaugural Address, 1789
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Petition created on November 10, 2020