Your Opinion: Limit political terms, donations

Dear Editor:

While in the grocery store a few days before Christmas, I happened to turn down the right-hand corner to the third page of an out-of-town paper and the large type in the heading caught my attention. It is once again unbelievable how legislators will attempt to snooker more power and money from we poor and getting poorer taxpayers here in Missouri.

The heading read "Longer Terms May Inspire Legislators." My own thinking is that such a group of people, just like the attorneys and other government bodies, always like to feather their own nests first before helping the citizens who elect the to office, many of whom should not have been elected in the first place.

Although the newspaper article related to the Illinois lawmakers don't be mislead in believing that our own wouldn't be up to copying this idea in the future. They would like nothing better than to double their salaries along with the free lunches from lobbyists and giving worthless and meaningless speeches to give themselves more free publicity and their pictures scattered throughout the papers and on television.

When term limits were first brought to the attention locally of taxpayers this individual appeared on a panel and spoke up in favor of limited terms. And it is apparent that we should stick with same. Too many flaws originate with the serving of more than a term consisting of two or four years. We taxpayers are the losers. Maybe in this way it will be possible to week out the incompetents and those who appear incorrigible.

Donation requests from both businesses and individuals have reached a high level that doesn't appear to be leveling off. And some individuals such as younger people who cant' find a job due to indifference, a lack of education or experience or maybe a lack of knowledge or know-how seem to be trying to start or open what could be called start-it-up businesses by requesting donations through any means they can.

Again, we taxpayers are being flooded with letters and telephone calls from everyone asking for donations. We have to draw the line somewhere. They should learn to operate a business as others have done to have not had a business turned over to them from relatives or such and not look to everyone else to give them donations for same.