Another election

I do not expect much to change. The people in office are about power. It does not seem to matter which party they belong to. I voted my conscience. We have a seven term senator and I think he should have been retired. 7 terms at 6 years = 42 years.  I think we need term limits. I believe there are a lot of good people that would represent us in Washington if given the chance. But there is too much money required to win a Federal seat. I believe there is a lot of influence peddling that goes on. We only seem to be upset about it when it is the other party's candidate or perhaps a candidate from another state.  I really think we would get better representation if we had term limits. One term for a Senator. Two terms for a Representative. If they serve two terms as a Representative and do a good job, perhaps one term as a Senator after that, totaling 10 years. I believe we would have no trouble filling the spots in any given state. After so many years in office it seems they have an unfair advantage over  newcomers running for office. They have many more times the money to run a campaign, and it is insane the amount of money that is spent to remain in office.  We are suppose to be represented by the people for the people. These carrier politicians seem to forget what they went to Washington for. Perhaps a really good person could spend time as a governor or as a state representative or senator before going to Washington, and still spend most of their time in public service. Their retirement benefits need to be eliminated and just get what the citizens they represent get, Social Security and what ever else they put aside.  I  think the President and Vice President should remain unchanged as far as their retirement benefits. I don't know how we the people could get this implemented, but I believe it needs to start with term limits and get enough people in office that actually care about the people they represent. Then they can make changes to the retirement system. Perhaps it should be a public servant retirement system that is more like the teachers and Police and fire department personnel. Something needs to change, and  I believe we would need term limits across the board, in every state. If  half the states had term limits and the other half did not, the states that do not have term limits would have an advantage with long setting Senators and Representatives. But how could this ever happen? There are too many powerful people in Washington that would never let this happen like our seven term Senator.  If the majority of people in this country wanted that, couldn't we get a petition started and get something like this voted in? I think we should start by retiring anyone who has more than ten years in Washington. Make it a level playing field. Maybe we could get rid of some Harry Reids . We have about 47 first term Senators. We have 5 that are in their 80's, 15 have been a Senator for more than 20 years. Maybe it could be done in stages, retire any one in their 80's. then make a mandatory retirement at 70 some time later.  then when we have a more level playing field put term limits in place. Even the first term Senators would probably not want term limits. We have a minimum age, why couldn't we have a maximum age? I understand the need for a minimum age, because our thinking is not mature until a certain age. That too differs from person to person. Could not the same be said for us as we get older? We do not all suffer with dementia, but it is something that does happen to some as we get older. Should we not protect ourselves with age limits on the upper end also? I think we have two individuals from our state that should have been replaced this election and they were voted in for another term. Thad Cochran (Senator) and Alan Nunnelee (Representative). Thad will be 82 by the end of this term, and Alan has had a stroke and physical difficulties. I saw a picture in the paper of Alan and you could tell by his face he had a stroke. He should have been replaced. Thad is too old and does not have the energy any more. He also should have been replaced. These are not lifetime appointments, but they have power when they have been in there awhile, and do not want to step down. We, the voters should replace them for their own good and ours.  God bless, LVZ.