By Mayor Anna Little
There are many things that just do not work with government anymore. But do not let anyone tell you that government cannot be fixed. It's just going to take work, effort and a change. Term limits are a good place to start.
Americans should encourage elected officials to become public service, as that service was envisioned by our nation's Founding Fathers. Benjamin Franklin once said, "In free governments, the rulers are the servants and the people their superiors and sovereigns. For the former, therefore, to return among the latter is not to degrade but to promote them."
Congressional term limits were featured prominently in the Republican Party's Contract with America during the 1994 election campaign. When this was introduced in Congress then, this plan was approved with a simple majority in the House, but failed to meet the all-important two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Term limits for state governors or others within the state executive branch and other high constitutional offices have existed since the beginning of the United States.
Term limits were imposed in 20 state legislatures throughout our nation, either via successful referendums, legislative acts or state constitutional changes. The states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Dakota have successfully dealt with term limits. In most of these states, legislatures have term limits of eight consecutive years.
Term limits will encourage the public to have faith in government. This asset cannot be under-stated. The public's faith in government is wavering: Why shouldn't it?
In our own county, I suggest that term limits limiting how long any one freeholder may serve as director. Indeed, how long anyone should serve on the Board of Chosen Freeholders, will make for a more inclusive and, ultimately, more representative government for each of Monmouth's residents.
Where it involves the board, I believe no freeholder should serve as freeholder director for more than two consecutive, one-year terms. In addition, I believe that no freeholder should serve more than three consecutive, three-year terms.
It is through imposing term limits that Monmouth County will avoid the folly of being represented by career politicians who see public office less as a privilege than a right. Ultimately, this is one step. But the longest journey begins with but a single step.
Anna Little is the Mayor of Highlands. She served on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders in 2006 and 2007.
Also published in The Courier
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5 comments:
She is GREAT!
BTW if we had I&R we could get term limits and solve a lot of other problems in this state.
I&R always used to make me nervous because of some of the bad results in California. But right now it looks like the only way we are ever going to reform politics in this state. The "political class"
both republican and democrat has repeatedly shown that they really do not want to do it.
I've said it many times before...I would have voted for Anna Little. She's a class act and a true independent thinker when it comes to the people of Monmouth County. I think that they should have strung up Comrade Puharic for forcing her off the ticket. She was an asset to the county. When Puharic finally gets overthrown, I hope she decides to run again.
With that being said, I am grateful to Comrade Puharic for his megalomaniac attitude since it helped us dems take a seat on the Freeholders. I hope he keeps up the good work.
meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a
(měg'ə-lō-mā'nē-ə, -mān'yə)
n. A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence.
I like Anna Little, but I disagree with her here.
We have the government we have because we voted it into office. If Jon Corzine gets re-elected next year, then our state deserves what it gets.
I am not for losing out on the ability to vote for a candidate I like because he or she has reached an arbitrary limit. If my representatives in whatever body are doing what I feel is a good job, why should I lose my right to vote for them? Because most people are too stupid to vote out incompetent or crooked officials? Not good enough.
Restricting rights is not a good idea.
Lugar96
There is no question, Anna Little is a class act and I look forward to the day she serves Monmouth County again. All Adam Puharic accomplished was to disenfranchise Republicans in this county and stupid is as stupid. The gains by the Democrats can be clearly laid at his feet ! Perhaps he can learn something here.... people of this county want representatives like Anna and Barbara Mc Morrow of the Democratic Party who recognize that the electorate in this state CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE TRANSGESSIONS OF THOSE THAT GOVERN US !!!!! The sooner the politicians acknowledge that fact and term limits could be a point of control,the better off all of us will be.Our # 1 priority is not supporting corrupt politicians,it's taking care of our families!!!!
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