America has a long history of rejecting elitism in favor of rule by the people. Although the American government has not always been inclusive, I believe it is important to continue to uphold the idea that everyone can and should have a voice in government.
Our nation has never been stagnant- it has changed over time to conform to new voices in government. I think it is time for America to change again- this time in the form of term limits in the United States Congress.
The lack of term limits has led to a government steeped in elitism and corruption. Many of the most powerful people in office are professional politicians who have been in power for decades.
A lack of term limits has allowed for politicians to become entrenched in Congress, gaining power while becoming more and more disconnected from the concerns of their constituents.
When politicians are more concerned about maintaining their term in office, lobbying and corruption become much more of a concern.
Corruption perceptions within the United States have reached an all-time high.
With 3.5 billion USD being spent in lobbying during 2020 according to the Senate Office of Public Records to influence members of Congress, it is no surprise that phrases like “Drain the Swamp” have become popular in the past several years.
A lack of term limits plays a key role in both the power vacuum caused by lobbying and campaign spending and the general frustration with the current government.
Party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell both saw their net worth increase by millions of dollars during their time in office.
Meanwhile, according to a 2020 poll from the Pew Research Center, three-quarters of Americans say they do not trust the government to do what is right the majority of the time.
If a Congressperson’s time in office is limited, they may be less likely to be swayed by different interests in government.
Lobbyists may not be as interested in trying to influence someone whose days in Congress are numbered.
Furthermore, professional politicians may be rejected in favor of a true citizen legislator that will reflect the beliefs and ideas of everyday citizens like the working and middle-class peoples who make up the majority of the country.
Those who oppose term limits may argue that the rate of turnover in congress will lead to a government that has less policy expertise and less of the experience necessary to maintain a functioning government.
However, there has been no evidence that those in Congress have made progress either. Instead, lobbyists and interest groups seem to have more sway over elected officials than those who elected them in the first place.
Additionally, opponents may argue that if a new candidate is truly better, the voters will reject the incumbent.
However, incumbents are far less likely to be unseated because of both name recognition and the massive amounts of campaign spending among congressional candidates.
Now return to a larger question: Why should young people care about those representing them? Why does it matter if a politician has served for five years or thirty?
The answer is that elected officials have the power to create change. We inherit the nation that those in office leave behind.
The world is changing at an unprecedented pace and there are challenges that will affect us all for generations to come.
Some of the issues college students are most affected by include rising college costs, environmental change, and rising health care costs.
Students at the University of Wyoming are uniquely situated in a state that is at the crossroads of the nation’s energy future, with investments in fossil fuels as well as renewable resources such as coal.
Additionally, all UW students have experienced firsthand rising tuition and fee rates as the only four-year university in the state deals with budget cuts.
It is clear that the decisions made in Congress directly affect all of us.
Meanwhile, according to the Library of Congress the average age of U.S. senators is 63 years, while the average age of a U.S. congressperson is around 58. The average congressperson is also far wealthier than the average American.
While term limits may not entirely change the demographics in congress, they will encourage turnover in Congress so that new candidates can rise to public office.
Those in power should truly reflect the will of the whole population. Term limits will ensure that there are always new voices and people with ideas that they are passionate about in government.
I argue that the current lack of term limits in government encourages corruption and complacency among elected officials.
The alternative encourages officeholders to truly represent their constituents and allows for new candidates to represent a changing nation.
When elected officials are not working simply trying to keep their seats, we have a real shot at making our country a better place to live.
