The elections are over. The Republicans control the House, the Democrats will likely retain the Senate and, in the end, nothing will change. At least the obnoxious commercials and recorded phone messages will stop for a while.
American politics is all about power, celebrity and perks. During campaigns, the candidates parade their families before the camera, visit local merchants, extol the values of middle America and promise to restore our faith in Government. Once elected, it's politics as usual: pompous rhetoric, cable TV appearances, travel junkets, celebrity galas, golf tournaments, extra-marital affairs and deal-making legislation to ensure that constituents get what they want. After all, their primary goal is to be re-elected. Meanwhile, wars drag on, the economy stagnates, the wealth gap widens, individual rights are threatened and a commitment to environmental protection is but an empty promise.
The concept of term limits surfaces now and then and, in my opinion, deserves serious consideration. Professional politicians argue that they understand the logistics of government and that a regular turnover of Congress would diminish their effectiveness. The evidence, however, suggests otherwise.
