Hello Dave,   
      
   >DD>We need some laws (enforceable and enforced) to curb the abuses of   
   >DD>Wall Street. But, the truth is that the fat cats OWN the politicians   
   >DD>who write those laws. Prospects of meaningful reform are vanishingly   
   >DD>small.   
      
   >RW>Agreed, and therein lies the real problem.   
      
   DD>Same deal on term limits for elected officials.   
      
   The Framers of the Constitution refused to incorporate   
   term limits for president, vice president, and members of   
   congress into the U.S. Consitution.  And for good reason.   
   In fact, I think they wanted to appoint George Washington   
   as King, and for him to remain King for life.  But that   
   is a different topic, for another day.   
      
   DD>Many of them seem to think that holding elected office   
   DD>is a lifetime sinecure.   
      
   Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president who chose   
   to run for a third (and fourth) consecutive term.  Of course,   
   he easily won election (and re-election), as he was president   
   during an economic depression and a time of war.  Harry Truman   
   succeeded FDR, who had died in office.  And Truman was later   
   elected president himself.   
      
   note - Yes, we all know that FDR would have won a fifth term.   
   And a sixth term.  And a seventh term.  And would have continued   
   to win re-election for as long as he lived.  But all good things must   
   come to an end.  And in April of 1944, that is exactly what happened.   
   FDR was poisoned and died unexpectedly while on vacation in Georgia.   
   Although it is widely suspected that the British Prime Minister   
   Winston Churchill had a hand in doing FDR in, that theory has never   
   been definitively proven...   
      
      
      
   FDR.  May his soul rest in peace.   
      
   Now back to topic -   
      
   Although the Republicans wanted to do him in by limiting his terms   
   in office, the 22nd Amendment (which is poorly written or thought out)   
   did not apply to Truman, who chose not to seek a second consecutive   
   term.  Yes, you read that right.  The Republicans orininally wanted to   
   limit Truman to one term.  Then to one elected term.  Until Truman   
   taught them how to count.  In any event, the 22nd Amendment also had   
   nothing to do with limiting terms for members of congress.   
      
   If an elected (or appointed, as in the case of Gerald Ford) official   
   (federal, state, or local) is doing a good job, the people will be   
   happy and re-elect that individual given the choice.  Limiting terms   
   is anti-democratic in the sense that the people are denied that choice.   
      
   Do you honestly believe that George W. Bush could have won a third   
   consecutive term?  The guy could not have won a race for dog catcher.   
   Not even in his hometown in Texas.  The same is true of others who   
   have done a lousy job.  Either they resign from office in disgrace   
   (Richard Nixon), choose not to seek re-election (Lyndon Johnson),   
   or they are shown the door by the voters (George H.W. Bush).   
      
   Of course, Bill Clinton (the most popular president in US history)   
   would have easily defeated George W. Bush (the most unpopular president   
   in US history), thus saving this country from disaster.  Which is why   
   those dastardly and evil anti-democratic Republicans will do everything   
   in their power to deceive others into believing that term limits are a   
   good thing.   
      
   DD>Which certainly is *NOT* what the framers of the Constitution   
   DD>envisioned.   
      
   We should repeal the 22nd Amendment, thus returning this country   
   to what the Framers of the Constitution really envisioned.   
      
   --Lee   
      
      
    * SLMR 2.1a * I farted. It stinks. I may have to shit soon.   
      
   --- Maximus 3.01   
    * Origin: Xaragmata / Adelaide SA telnet://xaragmata.mooo.com (3:800/432)