It wasn't too long ago when Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky made a statement about the United States Senate being "stale and mossy". I laughed with amusement at his description at the time, but the more I think about it he was absolutely correct. A legislative body which was created originally to represent the interests of the state governments has turned into one that represents big lobbyist interests by a group of elected officials. Many of these same officials are also completely out-of-touch with the people they are supposed to represent while exhibiting senility in the stupidity of their reasoning.
Today, nearly half of the Senate is at least sixty-five years of age, about thirteen percent are at least seventy-five and eight members are over eighty. Most of these legislators have very lengthy tenure in Congress and by sheer length of service they have become isolated from the American people they represent. Think about it, they spend most of their time among themselves and hobnobbing with the Washington Establishment. Many even have their full time homes inside the Beltway and only travel to their represented states for campaigning. Fundraising takes the most amount of their time as they are constantly building war chests for reelection. And make no mistake about it, that is their prime function for as they become used to the perks and privilege and power, they become addicted to it and the addiction overtakes their common sense and their original purpose in running for office.
But there's something much more dangerous that we must consider and before you decide that I am anti-elderly I must remind you that I myself am seventy years old. I am in good health and of sound mind but I know that as we age we aren't as capable of multi-tasking as younger people. And for the Senators to do their job effectively, they must be able to multi-task between reviewing bills, talking and helping constituents, meeting with business leaders and others to gain information and ideas and remember all of those things sufficiently to act on them for the right reasons. But in today's Senate, the Senators don't even read the legislation they are supposed to vote on. And that's what makes their action so dangerous, for they rely on staff for all of these things and most of the staff comes from inside the Beltway, a liberal bastion. So, if you wonder why your favorite Senator who has been around a long time has been co-opted on an important vote like the elderly John McCain on healthcare, there's your answer.
Frankly, no one should be in the Senate for more than two terms and no one should remain in office beyond a certain age. Too much familiarity breeds contempt and too much power breeds corruption. Send them home before they fall prey to these things and before they lose their ability to meet the obligation to their constituents that they have promised. Now, I am not about to say what the age of mandatory retirement should be, but it certainly is much younger than eighty. And, of course, if voters did their homework and duty, they would likely not be electing those of elderly age, but they are so easily swayed by campaign sound bytes that they are easily manipulated.
Come on, America, we can do better than this. Quit electing the same old, same old that over and over again forgets what they've promised you. Let's look for better candidates, ones who have vigor, energy and honor and will follow through. And then, when they they begin to falter as they get too comfortable with their positions, throw them out and go through the same replacement process again. If that means it will take term limits to accomplish, so be it.
Today, nearly half of the Senate is at least sixty-five years of age, about thirteen percent are at least seventy-five and eight members are over eighty. Most of these legislators have very lengthy tenure in Congress and by sheer length of service they have become isolated from the American people they represent. Think about it, they spend most of their time among themselves and hobnobbing with the Washington Establishment. Many even have their full time homes inside the Beltway and only travel to their represented states for campaigning. Fundraising takes the most amount of their time as they are constantly building war chests for reelection. And make no mistake about it, that is their prime function for as they become used to the perks and privilege and power, they become addicted to it and the addiction overtakes their common sense and their original purpose in running for office.
But there's something much more dangerous that we must consider and before you decide that I am anti-elderly I must remind you that I myself am seventy years old. I am in good health and of sound mind but I know that as we age we aren't as capable of multi-tasking as younger people. And for the Senators to do their job effectively, they must be able to multi-task between reviewing bills, talking and helping constituents, meeting with business leaders and others to gain information and ideas and remember all of those things sufficiently to act on them for the right reasons. But in today's Senate, the Senators don't even read the legislation they are supposed to vote on. And that's what makes their action so dangerous, for they rely on staff for all of these things and most of the staff comes from inside the Beltway, a liberal bastion. So, if you wonder why your favorite Senator who has been around a long time has been co-opted on an important vote like the elderly John McCain on healthcare, there's your answer.
Frankly, no one should be in the Senate for more than two terms and no one should remain in office beyond a certain age. Too much familiarity breeds contempt and too much power breeds corruption. Send them home before they fall prey to these things and before they lose their ability to meet the obligation to their constituents that they have promised. Now, I am not about to say what the age of mandatory retirement should be, but it certainly is much younger than eighty. And, of course, if voters did their homework and duty, they would likely not be electing those of elderly age, but they are so easily swayed by campaign sound bytes that they are easily manipulated.
Come on, America, we can do better than this. Quit electing the same old, same old that over and over again forgets what they've promised you. Let's look for better candidates, ones who have vigor, energy and honor and will follow through. And then, when they they begin to falter as they get too comfortable with their positions, throw them out and go through the same replacement process again. If that means it will take term limits to accomplish, so be it.
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