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Dear Editor:

The American political system needs fixing. We need to let our United States senators and representatives understand how their decisions affect the average citizen of this country. Until then, we will continue to have laws and bills passed that favor the contributors to their re-election of office.

If these members were exposed to life outside of Congress, it should give them a better understanding of the impact of federal regulations upon the average citizen. This could be done by limiting them to two terms in office. Once they had to get a job within the private sector, they would soon realizes the problems of meeting a payroll and paying taxes, like the average citizen.

Term limits are a powerful political force to curb the potential for dictatorships. We currently have term limits set in place for the President of this country. So why should our U.S Senators and representatives be treated as a superior class of people and continue in office for unlimited terms?

Term limits would bring new perspectives to Congress, mandate frequent legislative turnover and diminish incentives for wasteful federal spending that currently flourish in a careerist congressional culture. Today there is little or no turnover among those who set Congress's agenda. The committee chairmen, speaker, majority leader and whip, have served an average of 27 years - which means that the average member of this group has been in the house since the Johnson Administration.

These long-term officeholders have increasing power over the fate of federal projects due to the seniority system. Senior member of both parties campaign by stressing their ability to bring federal projects to their home districts rather than addressing the important issues of the day. They identify their interests more and more with those of the federal government, rather than the interest of the average citizens.

I also believe that these public office holders should not be entitled to a special retirement and health package, and they should be held to the same benefits of the Social Security System and health programs they have set in place for the average citizen of this country. Maybe, if they had the same plans for retirement and health, we would see some changes to protect these programs.

The only serious opponents of term limits are the long-term incumbent politicians and the special interests that support them. Term limits would be a reality check to these officeholders in short, the best way to reinvigorate government is to bring in legislators with fresh outlooks and new ideas, and better incentives. Term limits are the only realistic way to change the culture of legislative careerism in Congress.

Thank You,

Larry Campbell
4124 Old Niles Ferry Road
Maryville, TN 37801