Colin Kaepernick & Congressional Term Limits

Colin Kaepernick is a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, and there’s been all kinds of fuss recently about his choosing not to stand during the playing of our national anthem. He tells us he’s protesting the unfair treatment of African-Americans in the United States and will not honor that anthem until our nation and its leaders do something about it. He’s certainly not the first to protest against perceived wrongs. What’s the big deal? We have our Second Amendment right to free speech. Doesn’t that include freedom of expression? For the most part, protest of any kind in this country is allowed. Try to protest in many other countries in the world and you’ll get your head handed to you . . . literally. What he’s risking isn’t his life or deportation. He’s risking his football career and a bunch of money. But that’s his choice. Trump says let him try another country if he doesn’t like this one. Sounds just like Trump, doesn’t it? In any case, this is truly a tempest in a teapot. He still has the right to remain seated during the national anthem. And this tempest will soon be forgotten.

John McCain (R senator from Arizona) is running for his sixth term in the Senate. The man is 80. If he wins, he’ll be 86 at the end of this term. He’s been a member of the Senate for thirty years and he wants to make it thirty-six. He, like too many others in both Houses, is too old to effectively help run this country. Thus, there have been a number of attempts to pass a 28th amendment to the Constitution which would limit the terms of congress people. I think it’s time, way past time, to set term limits.

A petition signer from Minnesota said this, but I’m reasonably certain it’s been said by many other political pundits: “Politicians should be changed frequently as are dirty diapers, and for the same reason.”

One such suggestion for a 28th amendment states (and I agree wholeheartedly):

1. Term Limits in both Houses of Congress:
Senate: 2 (six year) Terms Maximum
House: 2 (four year) Terms Maximum
Note: Not able to run again once you have served you maximum limit in either House of Congress
2. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when he/she leaves office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
4. Congress can purchase their retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raises.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women; Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

Calvin would probably sign such a petition.








Books, anyone?