TERMS: 12 years plenty

We’ve probably debated the folly of two-year congressional terms since middle school (or since before Mr. Labrador was born). His argument that a two-year term makes Congress more adaptable to change is shot down the moment Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, is entered into evidence.

Twelve years total time with four-year terms for House and six-year terms for Senate sounds good to me.

I agree with P.J. O’Rourke that everyone should be obligated to serve in an elected office for a term, and that it should be observed, entered into and performed in the fashion similar to jury duty. Serve the time, and then immediately return home to your normal occupation. Sen. John Melcher of Montana always had his occupation listed as “veterinarian,” but after 20-something years in Washington, D.C., most ranchers I’d met would have been hesitant to call him to treat livestock.

Did you read Rep. Labrador’s email bulletin? No town meetings. He did meet with our next generation of “cannon fodder” (military academy nominees), and attend several well-fed conferences.

“Let me have men about me who are fat…” Julius Caesar via Shakespeare

CHARLIE BRANCH

Coeur d’Alene