Letter: Term limits hurting Louisiana

We did ourselves no favor by voting in term limits. Hindsight is 20/20. As a guilty party to this legislation, what I have observed is exactly what Brenda Thomas (see Readers’ Views Feb. 5) has learned upon her recent return: “our state seems to have become more of a dictatorship than a democracy.”

This administration governs by intimidation and fear of retribution. (If this happens in school, it is called “bullying.”) With term limits, we effectively reduced the power of the Louisiana Legislature to check and balance the governor’s powers. Many legislators are so busy trying to keep their jobs, they forget to do their jobs. This is compounded by their inexperience in state government and a shortage of experienced would-be mentors who have been term-limited out ... good and bad indiscriminately.

We don’t need term limits. We have always had that power as voters every time we step into a voting booth. We need to retain good legislators, but we cannot do that if they are not allowed on the ballot.

Legislators, I believe you have it within your power to repeal term limits; you certainly did so with the Stelly Tax Plan. Take the first step to getting “your backbones back” and save our great state from ruin. You have more power than you realize. Use it for good.

Cheryl Achord

retired state worker

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by InPVille - 26/02/2013

@SuzanneMS: "Another real problem in Louisiana is the lack of a viable second party." It wasn't a problem for you not that long ago before the situation flipped. -[**]- Cheryl Achord quote of Brenda Thomas: "“our state seems to have become more of a dictatorship than a democracy.” Yeah Right !? This isn't anything new. Where were you during any of Edwin Edward's terms or during any of the Long Administrations.

2) Comment by SuzanneMS - 25/02/2013

Absolutely. Term limits are used by people in order not to have to make a decision about the quality of their legislators. It can be difficult to remove an incumbent, but it certainly is not impossible. Another real problem in Louisiana is the lack of a viable second party.

3) Comment by swinham - 25/02/2013

This is an excellent letter!!!! Our elected officials have the duty of representing us. If we don't have sense enough to not re-elect people who are serving only themselves, the governor, or anything other than our interests, the shame should be on us even more than them. Term limits make the assumption voters are too stupid to know when they should vote somebody out of office. Do we see ourselves this way, or are we too apathetic to make informed decisions?

4) Comment by tradewinns - 25/02/2013

what a crop of crud. the only way an elected offical can lose their job is through another election, the govenor, nor any of his minions, can fire anyone ("keep their jobs"). term limits can and does limit the time those in power can build themselves a power base to manage themselves into a fortune in taxpayers money. everyone knows, statistically proven, it is hard to remove an incumbent. the devil you know vs. the devil you don't is the theory behind it. automatic replacement (term limits) removes that option. now we need to learn how to repeal a tax increase that is designed by boundaries to pass. (cats tax)

5) Comment by ScotB - 24/02/2013

Certainly, Ms. Achord. You may very well get what you wish for in this session. A repeal of term limits for the governor and many years of the Jindal administration going forward. Congratulations!