The election will soon be over. Can't be too soon. We are tired of all the negativity. We spend a great deal of time and effort in demeaning the current President and Vice President in hopes of damaging them enough so the other guy can get elected.
This is damaging to our country. We should correct the problem.
My solution? Pass legislation so that the President and Vice President can only be elected to either office only once. The President and Vice President can never run for either office again.
This would stop some of the negativity. Since the President can now run for a second time, and the Vice President can run again, the opposition continuously denigrates them. This has to be counterproductive for the individuals and the nation.
The Presidency and Vice Presidency are tough and difficult jobs. Four years is more then adequate. If the current President and Vice President cannot run again they will concentrate on their duties in the job instead of getting reelected.
There are a number of tough issues that are unpopular - fixing Medicare, Social Security, taxes. An incumbent who hopes to get reelected will kick the issue down the road, often exacerbating the problem.
I contend that the second term is often not productive. Most of what the new President accomplishes is accomplished in his first term. The second term is often coasting on the accomplishments of the first term. And eight years gives more time for problems. Presidents Eisenhower, Reagan, Nixon, Clinton, and Bush all had second terms - and I think both their reputation and the country were worse for the second term.
In practical terms any legislation should be done so that it does not effect the incumbent. Change the rules going forward so that it does not effect the sitting incumbent.
One and Done.
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