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Robert Claus's avatar

I envy you and Mary making the trip to Albany. Jane and I considered it but decided my 88 year old bones wouldn’t have done well. Please know we’re with you in spirit. I hope the widespread demonstrations today give the Republicans in congress the courage to help stop Trump before he drives us off the cliff.

I too was flabbergasted that Sarah Palin was chosen to run for the Vice-Predidency…but I hung in as a Republican, albeit my primary rationale was it gave a vote in local government since the Republican winner of the primary is almost always going to win. However, when Trump was nominated the first time I ran immediately to the Democratic Party. My conscience wouldn’t let me stay in the Republican Party.

Your comments about the trickle down theory are right on. The didn’t work when Andrew Carnegie first proposed them and they sure don’t work today.

There many things that need to change but I have a theory:

As a start to curtailing the influence of money in politics I recommend we begin by instituting term limits at the federal level. Everyone gets 20 years. They can serve 20 years in the House, 20 years in the Senate or any combination of the two houses of congress but only 20 years. After that, they’re done. It’s probably an over-simplification and for sure would be a long shot but I’d like to see it happen. The founding fathers never envisioned career politicians. And I know from personal experience, anyone who is elected to any office for too long begins to think they know better than anyone else how things should be. Not a healthy situation.

Hope you have a good day in Albany!

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Harold Earl Paulson's avatar

Joe, Congratulations on making the switch. I look forward to reading your columns.

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