Why We Need Term Limits

During FDR's (Franklin Delano Roosevelt's) administration 1933 - 1945, America was transformed radically from how it used to operate into the "New Deal". The President and a Democratically controlled Congress changed America by introducing:

• Federal projects
• Created government administrative agencies and bureaucracies
• New taxes
• More entitlements
• New regulations

All of these things increased government control over economic activities and unfortunately, over our individual liberties. This is exactly what our Founding Fathers feared could happen. The government set prices, set production limits, established pension and unemployment programs (including the Social Security Act, which by today's standards, is nothing more than a giant PONZIE scheme!). FDR expanded and created alliances with unions, senior citizens, farmers, and ethnic groups. In essence, he radically altered the nature of American society. Does this sound familiar?

It is argued that the new form of government helped prolong the depression because unemployment was much worse in 1936-38 (starting three years after the New Deal began). It wasn't until the beginning of World War II, that the United States began to reach full employment and climb out of the Depression. In other words, his programs didn't help stop the Depression. They may have made it worse!

Early in the Depression, our federal system of checks and balances worked well. The Supreme Court rightly challenged several of the New Deal policies and implementations as unconstitutional, much to FRD's disapproval.

Finally, because of his long tenure in office (elected for four (4) terms), FRD was able to replace several Supreme Court Justices with those who favored and supported his new policies. Then he bullied the Supreme Court, thus neutralizing any challenges provided by the Court against his administration. He continued to ignore the Constitution and went on with his programs.

The significance of the New Deal was in the fact that it broke away from our tradition set by the Founding Fathers and the principles and limitations set in the Constitution.

Congress Wakes Up
Congress realized that without setting term limits, the office of the Presidency could become a dictatorship!

On March 21, 1947, our Congress wisely passed Presidential term limit legislation to amend the Constitution. This was a result of having FDR serve a unprecedented four terms as President during the Great Depression and into World War II. The legislation was later ratified by two thirds of the states on February 2, 1951.

Ironically, Congress escaped passing term limit legislation on themselves, because they were the good guys, trying to protect America from another such disaster.

Unfortunately, today they are part of the continuing problem of an out of control government. They now insult us by passing "emergency" legislation in order to save our economy without reading it. They pass bills written by special interest groups to gain favor and funding to help their re-election to office. Six (6) months after passing this legislation, our unemployment rate is much worse than it was at the onset. Our deficit spending has reached unsustainable highs at the expense of the next several generations of Americans.

How To Change
We need to change the rules for Congress. Propose a limit of no more than two consecutive terms for Congressmen and Senators. It eliminates the checks and balances! No more Career politicians. AND, no more life - long free pensions and medical insurance for serving!

Demand Term Limits!