Reorganizing Government II

What about at the top? Should we make changes at the top?

The President. How many years should a president serve? Two terms? Three? Should there be a limit? What about a single term of six years? Would a single term mean being a lame duck from day one? What if we were to increase to six years and eliminate term limits? Then, the constant unknown would keep all parties guessing.

What about Congress? Term limits would not necessarily be bad for Senators and Representatives. It is up or out. As it is now, representatives have constantly fight for reelection, seeking money and support and as a result having little time for legislation. What about increasing a term to four years and limiting time in the house to three terms (alternating terms even half for one and the odd half for the other). As for senators, six years is fine but a limitation to 3 terms and out. Senators used to be elected by state legislatures. Why not return to the same? That would allow the state to influence more directly the priorities of its senators.

Another problem in our government is full time legislators. Perhaps we should return to a citizen legislator--that is making the legislators have a full time separate job and minimize the amount of time they spend in congress. I suggest no more than 2 months. In the age of the internet, communications can be done electronically. By forcing congresspersons to live and work among us, their constitutents, they will hopefully be more grounded and stay local instead of becoming part of the beltway potomac problem.

Use the internet, e-voting should be considered. National referendums expressing views of the public should be done. In this mode, simple statements should be voted upon and their content known to the legislators. Any vote that shows significantly one side or another (60-65%) should be heavily considered in the final vote.

Thoughts?