In October 2008, the New York Times came out unequivocally against term
limits. They must be removed 'to serve the larger cause of democracy.'
[Perversely, this was a case where they were recommending that elected
officials go against the popular will as twice expressed by electors.]
But, this was to support Mayor Bloomberg. In the case of President
Chavez, the New York Times demands that the people maintain term limits
[presumably to 'serve the larger cause of democracy']. See below.
October 1, 2008
Editorial
The Limits of Term Limits
The bedrock of American democracy is the voters' right to choose. Though
well intentioned, New York City's term limits law severely limits that
right, which is why this page has opposed term limits from the outset.
The law is particularly unappealing now because it is structured in a
way that would deny New Yorkers --- at a time when the city's economy is
under great stress --- the right to decide for themselves whether an
effective and popular mayor should stay in office.
Partly for this reason, and partly to extend their own political
careers, a majority of City Council members are thinking about amending
the city law to allow elected officials to serve three consecutive terms
instead of two. That would permit Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run again
in 2009 and could also prolong the service of council members and other
senior elected officials. Mr. Bloomberg, who is expected to announce on
Thursday that he will seek a third term if he can, likes the idea a lot.
We do, too. But we would go further and ask the Council to abolish term
limits altogether --- not to serve any individual's political career but
to serve the larger cause of democracy.
It makes a lot of people uncomfortable to legislatively rewrite a law
that voters have twice approved at the ballot box --- in 1993 and 1996.
It makes us uncomfortable, too, and we previously took the position that
any change should be left to the voters. But we have concluded now that
changing the law legislatively does not make us nearly as uncomfortable
as keeping it. It is within the rights of the Council, itself an elected
body, to do so.
Term limits are seductive, promising relief from mediocre,
self-perpetuating incumbents and gridlocked legislatures. They are also
profoundly undemocratic, arbitrarily denying voters the ability to
choose between good politicians and bad, especially in a city like New
York with a strong public campaign-financing system, while automatically
removing public servants of proven ability who are at a productive point
in their careers.
The City Council members who want to change the law are not alone. A
survey in The Times last month found that at least two dozen local
governments are suffering buyer's remorse about the term limits they
adopted, mostly in the 1990s. One common complaint is that they force
politicians to focus on small-bore projects that can be achieved quickly
rather than visionary ideas. The constant churning also diminishes
accountability in governmental institutions like the City Council.
Most places that are trying to relax term limits are likely to do so via
the ballot box, with several referendums due in November. There is a
chance that a vote on the issue could be organized early next year in
New York in conjunction with special elections to the City Council. But
such elections do not attract many voters. In the end, a vote by the
Council is probably the most democratic way to address the matter.
It is worth repeating: This is a rule that needs to be abolished. If the
voters don't like the result, they can register their views at the polls.
------------
Editorial
Venezuelans' Right to Say No
Published: February 13, 2009
Hugo Chávez apparently doesn't believe Venezuelan voters, who just more
than a year ago rejected his bid to eliminate the term limits that are
blocking his continued rule. On Sunday, he is giving them another
chance. For the sake of Venezuela's democracy, they should again vote no
on changing the nation's constitution.
Mr. Chávez became president 10 years ago as a champion of the poor and
promised to combat Venezuela's vast inequities. He has since turned into
a standard-issue autocrat --- hoarding power, stifling dissent, spending
the nation's oil wealth on political support.
His supporters now control the National Assembly, the Supreme Court and
the nation's oil monopoly. He has nationalized large swaths of industry.
When the opposition won the governorship in the state of Miranda last
year, Mr. Chávez's government transferred control of state clinics and
hospitals to the national health ministry.
The government has attacked unsympathetic unions, harassed human rights
advocates and clamped down on free speech. In a scathing report released
in Caracas last year, Human Rights Watch said Mr. Chávez's policies
"have degraded the country's democracy." Mr. Chávez responded by sending
armed security agents to abduct two Human Rights Watch representatives
from their hotel and put them on a plane to São Paulo, Brazil.
Polls suggest Mr. Chávez's bid to change the constitution is running
ahead. Still, he is becoming more desperate as the collapse in oil
prices has sent the economy into a tailspin, curtailing his ability to
finance social programs that have sustained his popularity with the poor.
He and his supporters are increasingly resorting to intimidation. Mobs
have occupied the municipal government headquarters in Caracas, which is
run by the opposition, and lobbed tear gas canisters at the home of a TV
executive who has been critical of the government and others. The leader
of one hard-core group is threatening "war" if Mr. Chávez loses,
according to news reports.
Voters should not yield. Mr. Chávez needs to be reminded that
Venezuelans believe in their democracy and cherish their right to say no.
--
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Director, Programme in 'Transformative Practice and Human Development'
Centro Internacional Miranda, P.H.
Residencias Anauco Suites, Parque Central, final Av. Bolivar
Caracas, Venezuela
fax: 0212 5768274/0212 5777231
www.centrointernacionalmiranda.gob.ve
[email protected]
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.12/1822 - Release Date: 12/1/2008 8:23
AM
_______________________________________________
pen-l mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
