Venezuela: Voters Repeal Presidential Term Limits

[Imran Siddiqui]

I wonder if there has ever been an instance where the removal of a term limit has led to better governance.

Considering why and who asks for removal of term limits, I'm guessing 'no'.

[MarkG]

It's OK because its common for countries to not have term limits on leadership. Britain doesn't, for example.

Greece doesnt either. nobody has made it to stay in power for more than 7-8 years continuously though (a couple have managed to come back later...)

so as long he keeps getting elected through a fair procedure (as it happens to be the case according to initial reports)...

[MarkG]

I wonder if there has ever been an instance where the removal of a term limit has led to better governance.

would you rather have bush I for four/eight more years or bush junior?

[RGBVideo]

Those who cast ballots decide nothing. Those who count, decide everything.

[Unimatrix11]

I heard it on the radio this morning (of course accompanied with the announcements of a further detailed report on that later on, as if it was another chernobyl) and went like ´YES!´ (becker-fist).

[Kuciwalker]

Didn't he have this referendum already? Is it really a good idea to make constitutional changes by attrition?

[MarkG]

Didn't he have this referendum already? Is it really a good idea to make constitutional changes by attrition?

it was voted down by the people (like it sometimes happens in democracies )

[Ben Kenobi]

Do you ever notice how all of his changes increase his own personal power? It just goes to show any country can slip closer and closer to dictatorship.

!Viva Chaves!

[Arrian]

Since I think term limits are a very good thing (and would like to see them in the US Congress as well), this doesn't strike me as a good idea. That said, of course this one thing doesn't mean Venezuela is a dictatorship. Baby steps...

-Arrian

[chequita guevara]

I'm opposed to term limits as a general principle of removing a democratic choice from the people. In the case of America, there is an institutionalized bias in favor of incumbents or those who would serve the powerful, but the institution of term limits in the United States at various levels hasn't led to an increase in good governance. The most important step that could be taken to give everyday people more say in their government would be to get private money out of elections.

[chequita guevara]

Didn't he have this referendum already? Is it really a good idea to make constitutional changes by attrition?

Yes, but it was along side a lot of other changes to the constitution that the middle classes, apparently, opposed more. Term limits, not that big a deal, apparently.

[DinoDoc]

Since I think term limits are a very good thing (and would like to see them in the US Congress as well),

They have these things called Congressional elections. Maybe you've heard of them?

[notyoueither]

What does that have to do with what he said, DD?

[DinoDoc]

It goes to the heart of what he said, nye. Voters limit or extend the terms of office for thier representatives at thier discretion. Enforced term limits take away choices from the voter and remove institutional knowledge from the representative body the politician is forced from.

[notyoueither]

Yes, there would be positives lost if legislators were limited in term, but I think his reason for wanting them would be the negatives.