Can you believe it? A new political argument . . . well, not really.
Over at the Michigan Students for a Free Economy website, Isaac Morehouse reports on what he calls the “most honest anti-term-limits argument ever.” It’s too much work! Not only politicians, but lobbyists and reporters, too, find it difficult getting to know all the new guys.
Thanks largely to term limits, there are 46 new lawmakers coming into Lansing. According to Michigan political reporter Tim Skubrick, “It’s a very disconcerting feeling to know that you need to get news out of these folks, but . . . if you got in the elevator with any one of them you’d have no idea if they were lawmakers, staffers or capitol tourists.”
Sure. How much easier making the same old deals with the same old crowd!
Foes of term limits often claim that lobbyists “love” term limits, because lobbyists can presumably leverage their knowledge of issues to more easily control ignorant freshmen legislators. But term limits are a hassle for lobbyists, too. All those new people to befriend, and try to convince that your special interest is identical to the public interest.
Morehouse sees through the arguments. He says that as a citizen concerned about his wallet, he can do without politicians who “know their way around” the capitol and are experts in politics as usual.
Most people can agree — except those who absolutely hate updating the rolodex.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.