Nearly a generation ago I believed that the electorate would be the jury that decided the length of time that any one elected representative would be allowed to remain in office.
Yet, that was long ago and my attitude has since changed. Sam Adams, one of our founding fathers said that public officials should NOT be chosen if they are lacking in experience, training, proven virtue and demonstrated wisdom. He said that the responsibility of the electorate is to chose those whose "fidelity has been tried in the nicest and most tender manner, and has been ever firm and unshaken." The founders realized human nature for what it was/is and that is a mixture of good and evil. They understood that if the people are to govern themselves and have the best government possible, then the political process should be one that allows the most experienced and the most virtuous to rise to the top and be elected to public office.
Given the fact that the electorate of today is largely uneducated in politics, issues and candidates, I find that TERM LIMITS is the only remedy. Given the economic turmoil and the obvious move toward socialism, WE THE PEOPLE, must take these matters to heart and make sweeping changes toward protecting our Constitution and our American way of life.
I propose therefore that Term Limits be imposed on the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate as follows; Those elected to the United States House of Representatives shall serve no longer then 12 years (six terms) and those elected to The United States Senate shall serve no longer then 12 years (two terms). I believe that this change would be embraced by the founders' thus breathing new oxygen into the life blood of our Republic.
The framers of our Constitution never intended for the government to take over the financial system of this country. Nor did they intend for the President of the United States to become the Chairman of the Board of an automobile manufacturer. They warned against a welfare state of "utopian schemes and of leveling or re-distributing wealth." They warned against implementing a Monarchy(socialistic monarchy), such as that which the Obama Administration/Democrats are attempting today.
Thomas Jefferson said, "These men have no right to office. If a monarchist be in office, anywhere, and it be known to the President, the oath he has taken to support the Constitution imperiously requires the instantaneous dismissing of such officer; and I hold the President criminal if he permitted such to remain. To appoint a monarchist to conduct the affairs of the Republic, is like appointing an atheist to the priesthood."
Thomas Jefferson also wrote regarding the economy..."we shall consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay for ourselves; and consequently within what may be deemed the period of a generation, or the life expectancy of the majority."
So given the aforementioned, I don't think it comes as a surprise that we have a major problem in Washington D.C. Our elected Representatives are passing legislation without reading and understanding its consequences, appointing cabinet members who have engaged in illegal or highly questionable behavior and have therefore left the wants and needs of the American people far behind.
Our borders have been left unprotected, illegal aliens seem to have more rights than our taxpaying citizens, and hardworking men and women are more frustrated than ever before.
As I said term limits like that of the President is the only remedy. The framers did not design our Republic to be a permanent "docking station" for "career politicians." Experience has proven to us time and time again that power tends to corrupt even those with the best of intentions.
Join me today, and let's take our country back!
Steve Rathje was born in Cedar Rapids in 1956, to successful entrepreneurs Richard and Ida Mae Rathje, Steve grew up watching his parents run their construction business from home, six to seven days a week. Their strong work ethic is what the Rathje Construction Company thrived on. Today, Rathje Construction has expanded to a location in Eastern Marion and is being run by Steve’s brothers, Robert and Kenneth and two of Steve’s nephews. 
