There are several problems identified in the above posts...

Terms for members of Congress are too long and should be limited

Members of Congress are not responsive to our needs and wants.

My observations:

1)* If the voters could develop a consensus, we would limit the terms of office.* But will we?* Are we united and motiviated enough to limit terms?* I don't think so.* And if we were, would we create a bunch of "lame ducks" by eliminating a major incentive for their good performance - a chance at reelection?

2) Members of Congress who are continually reelected are apparently performing well enough to either a) satisfy the people who care enough to vote and be involved in "the system" in other ways, or b) fool the people who care enough to vote.* The basic problem is that the "voters" don't care enough to be engaged in their government to the extent necessary to provide the required oversight and demand accountability.* It is like a corporate Board of Directors being preoccupied to the point of ignoring the mismanagement of a CEO.

3) Could it be that we are expecting the Federal Government in general, and Congress in particular to do too much - to do too many different things?* If we are continually disappointed by the performance of either an elected official, an employee, or a business, we seek change.* Using a local government example, if a private entity can provide a particular service better, e.g. solid waste collection or water treatment plant operation, they outsource.* There are too many things we expect our federal government to do.* The more we expect them to do, the worse the service becomes.* Why?* Frankly, the federal government is the wrong institution for doing many of the things we are expecting it to do. And at the same time we complain about high taxes.* Sounds unrealistic to me!* We have to look to ourselves as voters and consumers of government services.* Have we (the "collective, corporate we ;D)* become fat (figuratively speaking, of course), lazy, complacent, and uncreative?* Is it easier to be complainers then to pursue alternatives when we [unrealistically] expect the federal government or Congress to be responsible for our welfare?