Universal Bull
by Paul Jacob, Contributing Author: We have term limits, they're called elections."
So goes one argument, famously paraphrased by President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe for an African Union summit: "It is a democracy. If people want a leader to continue, let him continue."
"All over the world," Owen Bennett-Jones writes at BBC.com, "leaders . . . are reluctant to give up power." He points to a number of cases, mainly in nations struggling for democratic stability:
When will politicians ever learn?
When the people are organized enough to assert power over those politicians . . . in Ecuador . . . Burundi . . . and the good ol' US of A.
This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob.
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Paul Jacobs is author of Common Sense which provides daily commentary about the issues impacting America and about the citizens who are doing something about them. He is also President of the Liberty Initiative Fund (LIFe) as well as Citizens in Charge Foundation. Jacobs is a contributing author on the ARRA News Service.
Tags: Paul Jacob, Common Sense, universal bull, elections, term limits To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
So goes one argument, famously paraphrased by President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe for an African Union summit: "It is a democracy. If people want a leader to continue, let him continue."
"All over the world," Owen Bennett-Jones writes at BBC.com, "leaders . . . are reluctant to give up power." He points to a number of cases, mainly in nations struggling for democratic stability:
- "The most striking current example," according to Bennett-Jones, "is Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza who, amidst violent opposition, is campaigning for a third term in office despite the constitution saying he can only have two." The president's spokesman acknowledged, "Mr. Nkurunziza indeed believes he is president by divine will."
- In Burkina Faso, thousands clogged the streets after the 27-year presidential incumbent, Blaise Compaore, schemed to evade a constitutional term limit on his office. But facing unrelenting pressure, Compaore soon stepped down.
- Speaking about his campaign to have the parliament eliminate term limits so he can run for re-election, Ecuador's socialist President Rafael Correa told reporters, "The easiest thing would be for me to retire in 2017 as one of the best presidents in our history, as the people refer to me." Correa's decision to reluctantly remain in power has sparked protests across the country.
When will politicians ever learn?
When the people are organized enough to assert power over those politicians . . . in Ecuador . . . Burundi . . . and the good ol' US of A.
This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob.
------------------
Paul Jacobs is author of Common Sense which provides daily commentary about the issues impacting America and about the citizens who are doing something about them. He is also President of the Liberty Initiative Fund (LIFe) as well as Citizens in Charge Foundation. Jacobs is a contributing author on the ARRA News Service.
Tags: Paul Jacob, Common Sense, universal bull, elections, term limits To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
1 Comments:
Well put. Sad that egos grow at a rate higher than active voters can fathom any answer to. I support Mike Huckabee and his term limit proposals and also his championing of the one and only Fair Tax among many other principled stands.
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