After observing the debacle in Congress the past few years, I have come to the conclusion there are a plethora of geriatric congressmen wielding too much power. Our esteemed leaders are interested in two things: staying in power even if it means sacrificing the good of the country, and enriching themselves through obeisance to special interest groups.

One solution is relatively obvious: term limits. I believe limiting senators to two terms (12 years) and representatives to five terms (10 years) would benefit democracy. Knowing a congressman’s time is limited might lessen the power of the lobbyists and allow members to do what is best for the country. Perhaps there might even be more emphasis on compromise, which is one of the basic ideas of the Founding Fathers. This concept seems to have been abandoned by recent lawmakers.

I also advocate an age limit for all congressmen and presidential candidates. No one over the age of 75 should be eligible to serve if they reach that age by the general election. Do today’s presidential candidates make you feel like this is a good idea?

Implementation of these suggestions would be much, much more difficult. There would need to be a grassroots movement all across the country to put enormous pressure on Congress to propose such an amendment for submission to the states. Could it happen?

Keep your wallet in your pocket, but as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have a dream.”

William Rice, Butler