There is a lot of talk about packing the court, a Convention of States, and other possible changes to law and the Constitution.
I’ve got one that may sound different, but hear me out. I think the president should be elected for one six year term. If that had been the case when Trump first ran in 2016, assuming it was the first instance of the change, he’d still be in office today.
The reform would work for a number of reasons. It would let a president focus on his office and not on reelection. It would free the chief executive to concentrate on duty, not fundraising. It would limit the time in office, assuming reelection, of any one person and limits on power are almost always a good thing. Since many second terms end in disappointment because the fire seems to have gone out, presidents could plan actions over several years without the political threat of election loss. And finally, it might cut down on the phenomenon of never-ending presidential campaign seasons.
Yes, the last two years the president would still be a bit of a lame duck. But one who could take brave and decisive actions without having to poll on the purely political repercussions to themselves. Granted, this would extend, and possibly reduce, the time in office of both good and bad presidents. But I think that risk is worth it as long as the length of congressional terms are not changed. Speaking of Congress…
Six terms in the House and two in the Senate should be time enough for any person. The turnover would bring to the Hill people focused on the real world of the private sector, not career politicians. Raise the age requirement to 30 in the House, 40 in the Senate and 45 for president. The end of AOC-like kiddie members of Congress, who also think like children, would improve the institution. It would also give people time to live and work in the real world before attempting to run it.
And while we’re at it, as J.S. Mill suggested in “On Liberty” in 1842, let’s institute plural voting. By that I mean that certain people, people who risk their lives to serve the country, would have their votes count twice. I’m thinking active members of the military, police, and firefighters. They have invested more. Thus, they should get more of a say
Per voters, as you take a test to get a driver’s license or become a citizen, a very simple test should have to be passed to vote. Just a general knowledge of American history and the Constitution would suffice. Oh yes, and raise the voting age to 25, with a waiver for the three categories of public servants above. Yes, I can hear the caterwauling now. But we have a system where the supposed servants are the masters and we have voters who elected Joe Biden. Something has to change.