Letter by Dick Smith on Term Limits

The following letter was published in the Aiken Standard today:

All the candidates have filed for their respective primary elections and now we the voters must choose which of them will best represent us in the governments of the County, State and Nation.

My personal opinion is that professional politicians do not always make the best public servants. Too many of them go along to get along with their leaders in order to get and retain good committee assignments. They become more concerned with their careers instead of doing what’s right for their constituents. Over the years their egos grow ever larger and they believe they have all the answers. They also become cynical and earmarks and cronyism are the accepted way of staying in power. As the saying goes” power corrupts.” There are way too many examples of this on both sides of the aisle.

My preference is for term limits but unfortunately they are not the law of the land. Fifteen states do have term limits and 6 others have tried to implement them. Several other states are still trying to have them. I hope South Carolina will try again.

A few years ago an attempt was made in the SC Assembly to establish term limits. Under the bills placed in the House and Senate House members could serve up to eight 2 year terms in the house and then switch to the Senate for three more 4 year terms for a total of 28 years.

The proposed bills contained a “grandfather clause” exempting currently serving members from the limits. Even these very broad limits would have resulted in term limiting almost one quarter of the house members and half of the Senators. Despite the grandfather clause the bills went nowhere. Obviously the only way we will ever get term limits is to insist on a referendum and let the people decide.

In the meantime the only recourse we have is the ballot box. I urge everyone to look very hard at all the candidates in the races and closely examine the records of those who have already served several terms in one position or another. Have they consistently done a good job or have we simply become accustomed to them? Do we tend to view them as a friend and are we not as critical of them as we should be of all elected officials?

Also look hard at the challengers and their reasons for running. Don’t be afraid to vote out the good old guys and gals. According to recent polls a sizable majority of voters want new leaders with fresh ideas at all levels of government.

This is an extremely important election year. Please exercise your right to vote and choose your preferred candidates as though the fate of our great country depends on your decision. IT DOES!

Dick Smith