New York City's Growth Machine... and term limits

There is a great piece in the Village Voice this week, "The Transformation of Mike Bloomberg: How the benevolent billionaire with no political debts ended up owning us all" about Michael Bloomberg's campaign to overturn term limits so he can run for a third term for Mayor. Granted he's quite good, but the web of ties he has, enabled by his huge fortune, his philanthropy, and as Mayor, his ability to reward unions and developers, demonstrates the Growth Machine thesis, or crony capitalism, at its most intricate levels.

Image from the Village Voice by Alvaro Diaz-Rubio.

Clearly, the campaign to replace John Dingell as the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee shows us the limits of experience. Between Mr. Dingell and his father, they have held the same seat in Congress for 75 years. I think that we do need term limits for political office, especially in Congress, and in local elections, probably 12 years or so. I mean, other than someone like Mayor Joseph Riley of Charleston, South Carolina who is probably the exception that proves the rule (maybe Richard Daley, but he has some issues), doesn't the track record of these various politicians demonstrate the need for regular change?

Yes, yes, limited terms does make it easier for the lobbying cohort. At the same time, being less beholden to lobbyists by not needing big money to campaign election and election, and focusing on what ought to be done rather than what benefits the handlers could help to limit this likely problem.

Did you see the Post article yesterday, "Senior Moment"? From the article:

After his conviction last month, Stevens's electoral defeat became official on Tuesday, his 85th birthday. By the time he finished, even a few of the Democratic lawmakers and staffers were dabbing their eyes.

Few will shed tears for the irritable Stevens himself. Nor are they likely to lament the end of his politics of greedily funneling federal money to his home state. But the scene had poignancy for another reason: As the old men on both sides of the aisle rose to bid adieu to Stevens, they seemed also to be saying farewell to their era, a time when the Senate was, for better or worse, a gentlemen's club.

"We all make mistakes," Sen. Robert Byrd, celebrating his 91st birthday, said from his wheelchair. " ... In a soft voice, Sen. Daniel Inouye, 84, a Hawaii Democrat whom Stevens called "my brother" ...

I am not trying to sound agist but read the rest of the article. Considering where we are politically, clearly the multiple decades that many politicians spend in office isn't helping...