In such a turbulent time in American history, there are so many places of middle ground that seem to be forgotten. It is incredibly important to take a step back and remember that there are places that we can agree. When I talk to both my liberal and conservative friends, most seem to agree that there is a glaring problem in the current congressional system: lack of term limits.
With 535 members in Congress, where the average age is 58.4 years old, some of the ideas that are pushed forward are becoming outdated, especially when the more “influential” members of Congress tend to be on the higher side of that statistic.
Adding in term limits, much like the one that the president holds, makes too much sense in this day and age. It is baffling that this legislation has not been passed yet, as it feels like a natural next step after the twenty-second amendment. And yet, so many Americans find it unsurprising that this progress has not been made.
The members of Congress have spent their entire lives dedicated to rising to the highest office; it makes sense that they are reluctant to pass legislation that would impede on their own life’s work. This is where we see the discrepancy between what a large part of the United States population desires and what realistic steps in our government look like.
Despite campaign promises, I do not believe there is any real chance of congressional term limits being passed in our lifetimes. That being said, many promises are kept and passed through Congress and into our legal system.
For this reason, it is important to remember to register to vote or to update your voting information to the Clemson area, if you intend on voting in person near campus. Students can also register for absentee voting by making one easy phone call.
In this climate, the political opinions of college students are more important than ever. More information on registering to vote can be found at www.scVOTES.gov.
Natalie Peck is a senior communication major from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Natalie can be reached at [email protected].
