The City of Covington, split 4-3, against a proposal to implement term-limits. The council had mixed input with some commissioners unsure one way or another. The majority of the discussions centered upon two or three terms, most in favor of three terms to “take part in the city’s retirement plan”. The retirement plan is likely a key factor in the support of term limits.

Council member Kenneth Morgan first brought the issue up at a work session stating “I think it would be a good thing to have in place. It would give us a different set of eyes, different people, different ideas. We want to be proactive in moving forward, and I think this would be one of the ways to help us.”

Throughout the presidential campaign in 2016 and many congressional races, the issue of term-limts continue to be a point of discussion. The President is limited to two terms and the Governor of Georgia is limited to two terms. Members of congress, Senate, and various state and local offices have no term limits.

Josh McKelvey stated “In our country, we have term limits build into our systems; its called voting. We do that every four years here, so if you’re not going a good job, you can be gone.” He said, “People are tired of people using the office as a life-long deal.

The discussions prior to the vote insured two key points that contradict the usual narrative around term-limits; It would have applied only to newly elected members and it includes a limit to allow for retirement pay.

An incumbent often has an easier time to win an election, then someone who challenges said incumbent. Some districts across the nation, including Georgia’s 5^th Congressional district, has had the same congressman for several decades.

There is growing un-reset with the political elite, status quo, and career politicians. The issue of term-limits is often considered the solution so that politicians are changed out and do not become too cozy on the public payroll. Unfortunately, having politicians vote on a matter that limits his or her own power, is similar to a student or child choosing if they are in trouble and what, if any, punishment they deserve. Unless it is a campaign item, term-limits are discussed and rarely implemented.

The United States was founded on the principle of Representative Government. For the snowflakes that do not understand this, this is not a democracy; rule of law by mob. The US is instead a system that elects one to represent many. The founding fathers were very clear in this design, this republic experiment that has lasted over two hundred years. Councilman McKelvey is partially correct in that voters do have term-limits and that are at the ballot box.

Unfortunately for citizens represented by a powerful incumbents, entrenched in the city, county, state, or federal government for decades, it is very difficult to “limit their term at the ballot box”. The founding fathers intended that each citizen would be called to represent his or her countrymen and each citizen taking turns. After a term of service, they would return to their private lives. In fact, the intent did not include “retirement pay” and “benefits” as this was a low paid act of service as patriots.The intention also did not include above market wages.

My how times have changed and we have veered far away from this concept. Today we see county CEOs making six figure salaries (Rockdale and Dekalb), and a congressman making well over $100k in addition to generous benefits. These salaries are set, only go up, and are not impacted by the state of the economy. Perhaps to increase our wages we should all become politicians- there is job security, health benefits, fame, and after a couple of terms, you can stay in office as long as you desire being compensated on the backs of the middle class who struggle to balance their checkbook.