ANOTHER BAD, DUMB, SORRY IDEA

Term limits has been an issue in recent years. It shouldn't be. Currently the teabaggers, who put such energy into representing everything that is or can become wrong with our society, are pressing for it.

Their demand is that someone who has held an office for a while should be automatically barred from running again for the same office. They say with some justice that people get used to the perks of a position and cease identifying with the people who put them in it.

But why shouldn't the people be allowed to decide for themselves whom to elect every time? And why shouldn't a candidate who has served for some time be free to offer him- or herself again?

Term limitation is an idea we have heard before at the national level. It was part of the Gingrich "Contract With America" - a part that the Repub members of Congress somehow never got around to enacting. Ross Perot's party came out for it also, though Perot himself was not for it initially.

Term limits is a mechanistic and undemocratic answer. Like "zero tolerance" policies, it eliminates thinking and permits no intelligent making of exceptions. Someone who has served outstandingly can be booted out even if that person's superior knowledge and exceptional skills would be particularly useful at the time - and even if the voters would readily re-elect him or her if given the chance.

Term limiting is offered as a democracy substitute. Why would anyone want an alternative to democracy? There is just no substitute at all for the people evaluating a situation for themselves and making the right call. If someone has been in office for too long and has "gone native," that person should be ousted. It might be hard to do so when the person is bringing in Federal money or has a massive edge in campaign donations. But it should be your call as a citizen, not a call made for you in advance.

Yes, crummy officials get in office and stay, bolstered by the large campaign contributions that incumbents attract and the favors they do for voters. But the solution to that is not to make them ineligible to run; it's to get campaign finance and campaigning rules under control and to create a more even-handed system. And the responsibility rests with the citizenry.

If you want lazy-minded, undemocratic answers like term limits, elect who the teabaggers say you should. Then at least there will be something to be said for restricting how long they can serve.