Robert Gooch
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thread 1/9
A slightly modified version of a bird-site post from 2022, in support of @rbreich :

Obviously, we’re incapable of being non-partisan in selection of judges, and have massive discrepancies between our representation and the population. So, it’s past time for changes across the board. A #thread .
11:16 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 2/9
Life expectancy for someone in 1776 was about 38 years. Most US Founders lived into their 60s, about a quarter into their 80s. This discrepancy between expectancy and lifespan was due to high infant mortality, and a lot of missing or in accurate data about enslaved populations.
11:17 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 3/9
Assuming that the intent was to have a learned character on the SC bench (there is no age, education, or law degree requirement), and the youngest person so-far put forward being 32 years old (in 1812), we can assert that no one would have expected a Justice to sit more than 30 years.
11:18 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 4/9
That seems like a pretty decent run for a SCJ to me. The Supreme Court is, by far, our least democratic branch. Lifetime appointments were supposed to shield us from partisanship. Obviously, this protection is no longer extend from either side. Let’s cap SCJ at 30 years.
11:18 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 5/9
In regard to Congress members, they age the same as the rest of us, so I’m not going to concern myself with age issues stemming from Constitutional framing. I think reasonable and effective governance needs balance between experience and ideology.
11:19 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 6/9
Arguments can be made for both cases - repeat congresspersons have experience in lawmaking, therefore become better at it. New congresspersons have a better view of the needs of their constituents. So, let’s have both:
11:19 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 7/9
I propose we extend House seats to 4-year terms, with a maximum of 2 terms per person. Senate seats continue to be 6-year terms, but are limited to 2 terms per person.
11:19 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 8/9
This means that a “career politician” could spend 8 years in the House, 12 years in the Senate, and (maybe) 8 years in the Presidency- that’s 20-28 years of public service, worthy of anyone’s esteem.
11:20 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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Robert Gooch
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thread 9/9
I’m SURE I’m not the only one who’s considered this. So, high fives to the other poli-sci geeks and like thinkers who are with me.

(Originally posted March 22, 2022)
11:20 PM - Jun 07, 2023
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