Constitutional Amendment or Congressional Power Trip?
Israel Stevens
For those that do not know, there was a very important amendment to the Constitution of the United States that was passed today. It deals with the recent struggle between the JCS and the Executive and Legislative branches of our government. The entirety of it can be found here.
The tl:dr version is that there are some heavy checks put into place. These checks give the President, and Speaker of the House access to the Milforum, and to be able to dismiss the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). And it also places a term limit on the CJCS.
Yes, you read that right. As the amendment states, no one may have more than two terms as CJCS. A term being three months.
I have been critical of the Military before, and I believe that the checks that were put into place were necessary, and I agree with them. But to limit the length that a person can stay CJCS? Why? You already gave the President the power to dismiss them. If they are actually corrupt, or disobeying the President, then they can be dismissed. Why is it necessary to impose a term limit?
Yes, our current CJCS has been in his role for a long time. But now the president has the ability (with a congressional vote) to dismiss him, if required. One would think that this would nullify the need to have a term limit.
In the interest of fairness, it should also be pointed out that there is no official term limit to the Presidential office. Although, there is “gentlemen’s agreement” to limit it to two consecutive terms.
In the interest of fairness, it should also be pointed out that there is no term limit to Congressional seats. We have Congresspeople who have served 13 times.
I ask, how is this fair?
Last week, we were worried about the military, and JCS abusing their power. This week, we need to be worried about Congress abusing their power. This goes too far. If there is a legitimate need to remove the CJCS, then this power has been granted to the President. There is no need to force the JCS to arbitrarily change the guard every 6 months.
I am calling on Congress to enact a term limit for themselves.
Fair is fair, is it not?
Fairness? Not in the eyes of Congress
Comments
1st \o/
v+s
There are term limits on congressional.
Congressional Term Limits: As many times as they prove to the american people that they are worthwhile contributors to the political system. Its a highly individualized and fluid system of self management. Works great.
CJCS was supposed to have been elected from among JCS, which used to include both COs and XOs of every branch. that has not been followed, but of course rather than returning to the system that was already in place it's so much better for an entirely other branch of government to make the decisions for the Military.
and.. see Joe's article, there's quite a discussion in that Comment section
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/what-effects-will-the-new-constitutional-amendment-have--1685469/1/20
Vote me out then. At least you have a recourse to shorten my Term limits.
I think the main point is that the military is a public tool, recieves 70% of our funding, and yet it is impossible for new members to reach the top. This isn't true in Congress or for the Presidency. While some Congress members have been in office for a long time, that hasn't precluded new members from joining.
And there will likely be a term limit on the SoH position in the near future. It simply hasn't been a problem up to this point, so we didn't address it. Fair is fair, if the CJCS has a term limit I would support SoH having a limit.
Comparing Congress members to the CJCS is a logical fallacy. Congress members would be more equivalent to JCS members, who do not have any term limits on them.
''Vote me out then. At least you have a recourse to shorten my Term limits.''
Thanks to strategic voting team, it's not about how good you are, it's about how friendly you are with the leaders of the said party and their efficiency in SVT.
And it always make's me laught how congressman would love to turn the military in a mere tool.
However, people tend to forget that they are not simply tools, they are citizen as well just like everyone else. They vote, they think. They want more than just being drone for congressman voted in by SVT. And on that I fully understand them.
Hopefully an effective brake on our military oligarchy/unelected eAmerican government.
Use your vote to speak your mind. Elect like minded people.
@Chucky Norris
You severely overestimate parties abilities to control elections. They are good at getting their big names into Congress, but me? I got 5 votes in MD, none of which were organized by my party. There was no SVT for the Libs last month. They were AWOL. Claire went offline, Iasov got banned, and Croy was out of party politics. There was only Dennis_McVicker and Wang_Chung in our Election planning IRC channel, and they sniped for someone else. 5 people out there decided to vote for me.
The people in the military aren't a tool. The military organization is. Congresspeople are not tools, Congress as an organization is. Don't act all emotional over make believe constructs in an internet game you pathetic bastard.
My offer still stands. Come vote me out. It was a damn miracle I got voted in in the first place. If you don't like these reasonable changes, come take over Congress and give yourself all the money. Then you and Jankems can be the private rulers of your circlejerk convention while normal Americans are blacklisted and pushed aside in what is A PUBLICLY FUNDED INSTITUTION.
"There are term limits on congressional.
Congressional Term Limits: As many times as they prove to the american people that they are worthwhile contributors to the political system. Its a highly individualized and fluid system of self management. Works great."
HAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAAAAA
Yeah with FEC controlled elections and people getting sniped in because they are "cool". That's term limits for you.
Possibly the dumbest thing ever said.
''you and Jankems can be the private rulers of your circlejerk convention ''
Good thing I'm in the military. I just got in the country 6 days ago and I'm already in a position of power! I can't believe how influent I've become since joining. Thanks Army!
I like this country already, making all kinds of friends.
If the Chairman, JCS serves at the pleasure of the President, what is the purpose of term limits? If anything, this ties the President's hands.
What if a particularly good and knowledgeable CJCS is ending 6 months of service, and WW IV breaks out? Kick him out, and let a new guy get "on the job" training while we get reduced to Florida again?
Congress, please rethink this part of the bill.
@ Choc. I don't really know you, but I liked you as president, and you seem cool. But that's a ridiculous idea. There is no formal term limit on Congress and you know it. You can spin it that the voters decide... but c'mon... You're smarter than that.
It's politics, guys. If you have Congressmen you don't like, get together and snipe them out. You have no ground to stand on complaining about other people getting together and voting people out. It's game mechanics, you guys have votes too. Go nuts, exercise your in-game power, and vote some people out. Then, if they complain, they'd be the ones without a leg to stand on.