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Self-imposed term limits may be the most successful strategy to break the hold on our government exercised by professional politicians. Certainly those in power have shown no inclination to vote themselves out of a job.
Incumbency in elected office, no matter at what level of government, causes a concentration of power that promotes a fundamentally corrupt use of that power. Politicians sent to perform the people's business often become self-indulgent egotists who put their own needs in front of service to their constitutions. They become addicted to the power and to the perks of office. Doing the people's business is the second order of business in many politicians' priority list. Their first objective is to get themselves reelected to the office they hold.
The current system gives the office holder a tremendous advantage over any challenger. According to publications of Common Cause, political scientists have researched and written about the "incumbent advantage" in congressional elections. In an attempt to explain the overwhelming success of members of Congress seeking reelection, researchers have identified several factors which make sitting members of Congress hard for challengers to defeat. These factors include:
Each member of Congress has an office budget allotment which provides enough money to hire a sizable staff both in Washington, DC and back home in their states or districts. These staffers assist members in their efforts to be effective, well-liked representatives. In addition to money for staff, members of Congress also have travel allowances for trips between Washington and their constituencies as well as for trips inside their states or districts. One of the most widely recognized "perks" of House members and Senators is the ability to send postage-free informational letters or announcements to their constituents on a regular basis.
Sitting members of Congress are on the job full-time -- that is what they are paid to do. In fact, many of the things a candidate would do to win an election, such as meeting and talking with voters, attending special events, appearing on television or radio talk shows, etc., are part of the job description of a member of Congress. In contrast, a candidate challenging an incumbent must generally figure out how to pay his or her bills while running for office. Many candidates are forced to go into debt, especially in the early stages of a campaign before he or she has raised Public awareness and much money.
Sitting members of Congress are almost universally recognized in their districts. Having waged at least one previous campaign, and a successful one at that, and then serving in Congress for two years (House members) or six years (Senators) makes a sitting member of Congress something of a household name among his or her constituents. Moreover, members of the U.S. House and Senate have easy and ready access to the news media and make regular appearances on television and radio programs and are frequently mentioned in newspaper articles and editorials.
As noted, every sitting member of Congress has run at least one successful election campaign for the seat he or she holds. This means, among other things, that a sitting House member or Senator has invaluable experience with creating and managing a campaign organization. It also means that incumbents generally have an effective volunteer organization in place and ready go when it is time to campaign.
By far the most widely recognized and probably the most significant advantage enjoyed by sitting members of Congress is the large amounts of campaign contributions they are able to raise, especially in comparison to those who run against them.
What is the record of incumbent reelection? According to the Center for Responsive Politics, "Few things in life are more predictable than the chances of an incumbent member of the U.S. House of Representatives winning reelection. With wide name recognition, and usually an insurmountable advantage in campaign cash, House incumbents typically have little trouble holding onto their seats."
As the Center for Responsive Politics further notes, "Senate races still overwhelmingly favor the incumbent, but not by as reliable a margin as House races. Big swings in the national mood can sometimes topple long time office-holders, as happened with the Reagan revolution in 1980. Even so, years like that are an exception."
The nation has strayed a long way from the Founders' ideas of a citizen government. We have developed a professional governing class at all levels of federal, state and local management systems. Politicians get elected and stay elected. They become the "go to" targets for all interests seeking favorable treatment. Their influence determines success or failure of businesses large and small.
As American businessmen were building the greatest economic engine of production ever seen in the history of mankind, they compensated for erosion of business freedom by means of innovation and efficiency. As long as there was expansion and prosperity there was no conflict. Every time there was an economic downturn, however, the power of government increased. The expanded power was held by a political class and professional bureaucrats that more often than not felt they knew better than the voters who had sent them to govern.
The Alliance for Bonded Term Limits will research the self-dealing in Washington. We will maintain a narrow focus with the hope that citizen legislators will step forward to enter the system for a specified period. There may be a time when voters will pick a bonded candidate for that reason alone.
