Do We Need Term Limits?

Rand Paul was on Sean Hannity's television broadcast the other day and seemed to incite that we need term limits. Yes, we do need term limits, but only because of what happened during the early Progressive Era. Prior to that era, there was no amendment taking the ambassadors of the States away from the legislature and making it a democratic election of Senators.

Here is the 17th Amendment in it's entirety:

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

And here Article 1 Section 3 prior to the passing of the 17th amendment:

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, (chosen by the Legislature thereof,) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; (and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.)

In short, the legislature chose the Senators, and therefore the Senate was a check on the democratic form of the House of Representatives. When this amendment was passed, that check was gone. It was passed on the pretense that State legislatures and Senators were becoming corrupt and greedy.

However, did this fix that problem? Hell no. Senatorial election campaigns are the most expensive campaigns outside of Presidential ones. It fixed nothing, but broke yet another check and balance on our Republican government.

So, instead of invoking term limits... let's repeal the 17th amendment!

"Mega Mosque" to build near Ground Zero

To say this whole episode of the reactions I've seen to this news is disgusting, would be an understatement. To those who have not seen the article.. here it is:

http://theweek.com/article/index/203439/a-mega-mosque-near-ground-zero

Here's a quote from that article:

Sorry, says Jeff Harrell in Staten Island Live, "there's just no room for a mosque at Ground Zero." America was founded, in part, "on the freedom to pray whenever, wherever, and whoever you want to pray to as long as nobody gets hurt in the process." But the fact remains that 3,000 Americans were murdered in the name of Allah.

Is that really where we are? 1000 years ago, this might sound reasonable, but today it shouldn't. They were muslim, sure, but look more into it. It's not like they came from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Algeria, Syria, Palestine or Egypt. Nope, most of the terrorist prior to 2003 were Saudi Arabians, where American forces were stationed.

In any case, even if it was because they were "radical" muslims, most muslims were abhored by what they did. They didn't accept it. Therefore, it might have been done in the name of Allah.. man who does that sound like? Excuse me, for this overused example, but that's what Hitler did.

Whether it was because of Hitler's much needed coalition with the Church and the Catholic party in Germany prior to him becoming fuhrer, is hard to say. Yet, it was a given excuse considering the power of the Christian faith in Germany.. which I guess isn't too surprising is the same illuminating power that is all over the Middle East.

Was Allah or Islam really the reason? Was it American Foreign Policy? Anyone who is willing to look into the subject with an open mind would find the ladder more relevant than the former. This is just another case of American prejudice coming out and the fact that we need to seek the friendship of all nations and all peoples.

I would be more than happy if this controversy opened up more debate on our involvement in the Middle East since the 1950s.. that doesn't seem likely. Especially with the Republican establishment gaining momentum.. anti-Islamic extremism seems to be on the rise.