The Emergency Majority

Conservative activists should push Congress toward “de facto” term limits. The idea would be to make life miserable for those who remain in Congress past their “limit.” The system of seniority would be replaced with a system of reverse seniority. No one would be permitted to hold a committee chair or a leadership position after six years in the House or two terms in the Senate. The congressional pension would also be immediately ended.

Finally, there are now three litmus-test economic-policy issues that neatly separate the Reagans from the Rockefellers: dramatic tax reduction and simplification, school choice, and Social Security privatization. Each is a populist issue with common themes—empowering individuals, ensuring long-term economic growth, and dividing the political coalitions of the Left. As with welfare reform, the time is ripe for these next assaults against the welfare state. The 105 th Congress cautiously advanced on school choice and decided to “wait till next year” on tax cuts and Social Security reform. If the 106th does the same, conservative patience with the GOP should be finally exhausted.

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Kate O'Beirne

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Conservative activists should push Congress toward “de facto” term limits. The idea would be to make life miserable for those who remain in Congress past their “limit.” The system of seniority would be replaced with a system of reverse seniority. No one would be permitted to hold a committee chair or a leadership position after six years in the House or two terms in the Senate. The congressional pension would also be immediately ended.

Finally, there are now three litmus-test economic-policy issues that neatly separate the Reagans from the Rockefellers: dramatic tax reduction and simplification, school choice, and Social Security privatization. Each is a populist issue with common themes—empowering individuals, ensuring long-term economic growth, and dividing the political coalitions of the Left. As with welfare reform, the time is ripe for these next assaults against the welfare state. The 105 th Congress cautiously advanced on school choice and decided to “wait till next year” on tax cuts and Social Security reform. If the 106th does the same, conservative patience with the GOP should be finally exhausted.