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A recurrent complaint in government is the entrenched nature of elected office. Elect a candidate to office, particularly for a second term, and he/she is probably there for a very long time. The power of the incumbent is well known, and the concern about incumbents is that they tend to move away from their own consciences, away from the needs of the voters and , and into the orbit of the big money peddlers.

So an increasing number of states have instituted term limits: so many terms in office, and you can’t stand for reelection. Recurrent efforts at instituting these limits at the Federal level have failed, with the exception of the Oval Office. After FDR, presidents have been limited to two terms.

Some of the pundits are very concerned about this movement. The conservative thinker Burke argued that politics is a skill like any other. Just as you would not want an inexperienced surgeon operating on you or your family, so you would not want a novice elected official deciding on far-reaching laws and policy. Every newly elected official will say that the job is far more complicated than they imagine, and that most of the first first term is consumed by simply ‘learning the ropes’. Real mastery of the process can take a decade or more.

Currently in Louisiana, our own term limits have just started kicking in, producing a madhouse turnover of the legislative branch, and a loss of all real seniority. The consensus among the pundits is that the winners here will be the lobbyists: they are the only ones left with any long-term experience in state policy. Shifting from incumbent to lobbyists, somehow, does not seem to be what reformers were aiming for.

There is a second problem in the political landscape, however: left vs right, republican vs. democrat. It seems that everyone is trying so hard to win out over the other side, that no one is interested win-win solutions. Beating the opponent has become more important than serving the majority. In the nasty fighting over bragging rights, it seems that the cooperative American spirit has been completely lost.

Let me offer an idea that could address both problems: Extensible Limits. After the normal time of limited service, a candidate might be allowed to run again– IF the body in which he/she has served concurs, (by private vote of course). Each re-election would become increasingly difficult; the first Extension might require a 50% vote, the next, an additional 3%, and a required 3% increase for each successive re-election.

For the head of state, perhaps permission from both bodies would be required, based on the same concept.

This has some very positive outcomes. Backbiting is punished, cooperation is rewarded. Politicians have to decide if they want to play hardball and settle for a few quick wins and then leave; or if they wish to really work at governance, at collaboration, and at consensus-building. I suspect the best and the brightest will choose the latter.

And the politicians who prefer ugly games will find themselves out of office, but quick. They will serve their terms, and be gone.

The very best people we produce will rise, and serve as an example to all who follow. Those with skill, and vision, and a passion for democracy, will quickly grow in stature and respect. And the length of time they serve will be in direct correlation to their talents.