The Limits of Term Limits

When Michigan voters amended the state constitution in 1992 to limit the terms of most state level elected officials there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth among professional politicians and central planning visionaries. What a tragic loss of knowledge and experience! What a danger to the republic to be governed by amateurs!

When Michigan voters amended the state constitution in 1992 to limit the terms of most state level elected officials there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth among professional politicians and central planning visionaries. What a tragic loss of knowledge and experience! What a danger to the republic to be governed by amateurs!

But now that term limits are actually taking hold, it appears the concerns of the pundits were unwarranted. The professional pols will not be so easily put out to pasture. The "institutional memory" isn't being lost. It is merely being reshuffled.

This was already his second effort to keep a place at the public trough since Michigan voters made "Move along, Bossy" public policy.

Four years ago Hart was one of half a dozen contenders to succeed scandal-plagued U.S. Congresswoman, Barbara-Rose Collins. And that particular contest provided an exquisite example of the absolutely essential knowledge and experience the electorate stands to lose if the good services of professional rulers are denied us.

In order to enlighten voters on the contenders' qualifications to serve in the U.S. Congress one of Detroit's major dailies, as part of an interview with each, gave them a little pop quiz that included five questions on some basics about the U.S. government. Here are the questions along with Sen. Hart's answers:

1.) Who is the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

Sandra Day O'Connor
(CORRECT ANSWER: William Rehnquist)

2.) What is the CBO and what does it do?

Don't know.
(CORRECT ANSWER: Congressional Budget Office; it does budget estimates and projects the costs of proposals.)

3.) How many amendments to the Constitution are in the Bill of Rights?

15
(CORRECT ANSWER: 10)

4.) How much is the U.S. debt?

$200 billion
(CORRECT ANSWER: Officially, over $2 1/2 trillion -- back then. The officially recognized debt has since doubled again. However, this is something of a trick question in that congress years ago moved social security revenue into the general fund and its liabilities "off budget." The actual unfunded obligations of the U.S. government are now about 100 times Senator Hart's 1996 guess.)

5.) What is the federal income tax rate?

8%
(CORRECT ANSWER: There are several rates, from 15 to 28 to 39.6 percent.)

In fairness it should be observed that none of the six passed the test. In fact correctly answering three of the five questions (or 60%, an "F" in anyone's gradebook) was the highest score any of them was able to manage -- which doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the credentials of those who would govern us at gunpoint.

Still, special mention must go to Hart -- the only contender who managed to get every single answer wrong and score a perfect 0%.

Needless to say, his bid to go to Disneyland-on-the-Potomac was no more successful than his recent try for the Wayne County Treasurer post. Stuck in the Michigan senate with half of his terminal term now expired, the clock keeps ticking on the public tenure of the Honorable George Hart. Two years and counting.

And we must feel some measure of compassion for his plight. His chances look even worse in the private sector. After a lifetime of public service, what is he actually qualified to do? Aside from kissing hands and shaking babies (and schmoozing or shaking down campaign contributors) what marketable talents do politicians really have? What likelihood is there that someone like Hart can acquire any useful skills necessary to the production of goods or services that people would buy voluntarily?

Whatever else he may be, Senator Hart is clearly not the brightest crayon in the box. Forget professional pols. How many people in everyday life do you know who think Sandra Day O'Connor is Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court?

Of course, neither the pressures of term limits nor the response to them is unique to Democrats.

It was only a few months ago that Republican Secretary of State Candice Miller, whose name was being trial ballooned in the media to contend with U.S. House minority leader David Bonior this fall, announced that she would stay in her current position.

Asked by a reporter if this was to keep her options open to run for governor in 2002 (as John Engler is constitutionally barred from seeking a fourth term) Miller unabashedly admitted that since she, too, would be disallowed an additional term in her current office, she would certainly be "looking for other opportunities."

Here's a wacky possibility. I know it sounds kind of crazy and extreme. But how about this? GET A REAL JOB!

Then, of course, there is the old tried-and-true method of at least keeping certain public offices in the family. The tag team of Sal and Sue Rocca in Macomb County is doing an excellent job of taking turns with different elected positions and wresting power from any pretenders.

Perhaps the most inventive approach for those who have sought to make a career out of governing the rest of us is to find another incumbent with good name recognition in the district and just swap offices.

This maneuver was successfully carried off by term-limited State Representative, Joseph Palamara, two years ago when he and Wayne County Commissioner, William O'Neil, simply traded positions. Now it's Commissioner Palamara and Representative O'Neil.

An economist by the name of James Buchanan won the 1986 Nobel prize for his "Public Choice" theory in which he conclusively demonstrated that politicians are motivated by the same kind of self-interest as the rest of us. And they are just as resourceful in satisfying those interests. They will build their careers, expand their domains, spend their budgets into the red, make deals with allies and stab rivals in the back with the best of corporate ladder climbers.

Term limits is simply another challenge on that particular career path. A new obstacle to be overcome.

Still, even with all the shenanigans don't let anyone tell you that term limits wasn't a fabulous idea. As evidence of its efficacy just look at all the whining and moaning from the philosopher-kings (and their media handmaidens) who feel ordained from on high to be our public masters.

Unfortunately, the plan didn't go quite far enough. The lifetime ban from ever serving again in the same office needs to be extended to a ban on ever serving again in ANY elective office.

As it is the members of the ruling class have simply resorted to a glorified game of Musical Chairs. And when they play it just right, no incumbent is left standing when the music stops.

Tim O'Brien is the Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Michigan.