[kbenson]

Low term limits are a double edged sword. On the one hand, you want to get new blood in the system. On the other, you don't want to throw away all the experience the representative has accumulated. how effective do you think someone really is in the first 2-4 years?

A middle ground might be to make those the term limits, but require the representatives to not fill that position that 3rd or 4th term, but able to fill other positions and come back later. E.g.

  senate (6) -> senate (6) -> congress (2) -> congress (2) -> congress (2) -> senate (6)

or even

  senate (6) -> senate (6) -> congress (2) -> senate (6)

This would force representatives into other positions, while allowing them to capitalize on (and us to benefit from) their experience. We have a little of this already in advancement from congress to senate.

[tcoppi]

You also create an unaccountable permanent lame-duck class of politicians that can't be re-elected.

[kbenson]

I'm not sure how it's any worse than current term limits in some states or the proposed term limits here? And I'm not saying they can't be elected, just not for the same position in perpetuity. If they were popular and want to run again for that position when next possible, so be it.