Breaking the bureaucratic stranglehold

Washington, D.C., is an endless labyrinth — a never-ending maze of doors, each threatening to conceal another faceless squatter. Elon Musk and DOGE have launched a much-needed audit of the hallway, evicting unwelcome tenants as they go. But just when you think they’re rounding the corner, another stretching corridor of doors reveals itself.

The obvious solution to this nightmarish entanglement is term limits — to which the small handful of Americans who disagree will respond, “But aren’t elections term limits?!???”

Nope.

Federal politicians benefit from numerous incumbent benefits, effectively stifling their opposition. Officeholders engrave their likenesses into the edifice of Congress, and it would be easier to persuade Ebenezer Scrooge to part with his wealth than to chisel away their unending monuments. For example, just 22% of conservatives view Republican Senator Mitch McConnell favorably (his overall approval rating is 16%). And yet, he’s serving his 40th year in office. Explain that.

To make matters worse, this nearly impenetrable palace attracts the scions of dominant political bloodlines. A Dingell has held a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for 92 consecutive years: Debbie Dingell, who was recently reelected for her fifth term, followed in the footsteps of her late husband, John Jr., who served from 1955 until 2015 and followed in the footsteps of his father, John Sr., who served from 1933 to 1955. For reference, the elder John was born during Grover Cleveland’s second term as president and was elected to Congress the same year Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to the White House.

The Dingells are far from the only dynasty in Washington. Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has served in Congress for over 20 years, replaced her father, Frank Murkowski, who also served for more than two decades. The Bilirakises — father and son — have served since 1983. Representative Nancy Pelosi, whose father served from 1926 to 1933, has already begun positioning her daughter, Christine, to succeed her.

But who said the problem ends with Congress?

Booting notorious, nationally-recognized politicians from office should be the easy part. The real work begins when you enter the sewer system of administrative offices — the bureaucratic stronghold of the anonymous elite who control your life.

Even if elections could keep D.C.’s royal families in check, they fail to address another corrupt demographic. In fact, term limits for elected officials alone could dramatically backfire if we neglect to fetter this second, much larger group.

I am referring, of course, to the unconstitutional “fourth branch of government”: the administrative state. Herein lies the true labyrinth of Washington’s overgrown power. Everyone’s keeping tabs on Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi. But who’s watching the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s climate advisor or the Internal Revenue Service’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Specialist? Who’s keeping track of the roughly three million federal workers the government employs? Even if we reinstall a revolving door into Congress, entrenched government interests can (and will) simply redirect their agendas and wish lists to the many unelected career bureaucrats who run rampant in our nation’s capitol.

Unless, of course, we target them, too.

Those who bleat about only “electing better people” forget that, with hundreds of overbearing agencies at their disposal, the enemies of freedom hardly need a Congress. Even if, by some great miracle, we secured a 100% turnover rate during the next election cycle, the true political royalists would remain unaffected. Forgive the overdramatic analogy, but in J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion,” the Valar capture the Dark Lord Melkor, only to miss his lieutenant (and successor), Sauron, because they failed to delve too deeply into his fortress. Let’s not make the same mistake.

The Convention of States resolution calls for an Article V convention to propose amendments limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, imposing fiscal restraints, and placing term limits on federal officials. The call is not restricted only to term limits for members of Congress; rooting out their behind-the-scenes puppet masters is equally important.

Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution clearly states, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” In other words, only Congress can make law. Not the bureaucracy. Not the Planetary Protection Officer, Grizzly Bear Conflict Manager, or six-figure gender theory major. Only Congress.

That doesn’t mean the legislature is off the hook, either. In keeping with our proud citizen-centric tradition, we must eschew the very appearance of aristocracy. If Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms prompted the Twenty-second Amendment, maybe the Dingells’ 46 should trigger a similar amendment for representatives and senators.

With an Article V convention we can break Washington’s bureaucratic stranglehold on America and restore government of, by, and for the people. Sign the petition below to support this historic movement.