Recently, there has been some discussion on the down-side of term limits.  A lack of experience and  turnover have been problems.  Just about the time that a politician learns the job, their term is up.  On the up-side, term limits bring in new and fresh ideas.  Term limits were imposed by voters who wished to prevent political dynasties by entrenched incumbents.  It has worked to remove some awful political "hacks."  However, it has also removed some very excellent legislators.  Maybe it's time to take a new look at term limits.  Could there be a better way to prevent "eternal cronyism." 

Part of what voters voted for was not implemented anyway.  Our representatives in Washington were unaffected.  I propose a new ballot initiative for the 2010 election.  Instead of term limits, this new proposal would limit the amount of money an incumbent could spend on any election cycle to fifty percent of the candidate's one-year income.  This same law would allow challengers to spend up to one-year's salary, of the position they are seeking. 

Further, this ballot initiative would allow no other entity to spend money on behalf of the candidate without a disclosure and disclaimer.  Printed ads that are not paid for by the candidate would contain a disclaimer such as the following:  "This ad is a biased ad for one candidate over another.  The information contained herein may or may not be true."  Radio and television ads would require a similar audio disclaimer before the ad is run. 

This would level the "playing field" and remove the inherent advantage held by incumbents.  This law would apply to any candidate for any office in the state of Michigan.  This law would also prevent special interest groups from buying the government which is by, for, and of the people.  This law would allow good politicians to serve indefinitely.  It would keep experienced lawmakers in office as long as they perform well.  This law would also make the act of candidates accepting donations from organizations not represented in the state of Michigan illegal. 

Anyone interested in helping to promote such an initiative should contact me.  Anyone with ideas to make the initiative better should also contact me.  It's up to us, the voters, to do the really tough jobs.  Our lawmakers would like to end term limits.  Perhaps we should end them in favor of a better idea.  Leveling the playing field and making campaigns easier for challengers  would end the shortcomings of term limits.

David Ryan

Republican Candidate

Michigan State House Rep.

(989) 873 4579
5290 E Greenwood Rd.
Alger, MI 48610
davideo1226@yahoo.com