I think I'd go the other way there is quite a lot of evidence to suggest longer terms make for more longterm thinking. I'd maybe suggest looking at the German system even. 10 years two seats of power, one elected buy the people and one by elected delegates.

I'm fine with the idea of lifetime terms as long as your the best person for the job. I don't like the pension BS though. If you're making that much you can pay into a private pension fund or invest it! If you're too incompetent to invest wisely enough to support yourself in retirement when you earn hundreds of thousands a year then you probably aren't the right person for the job.

Limiting campaign funds/what you are able to spend as well as contributions is a very good idea. I'd add some more restrictions to this though, for instance, that media (TV etc) shouldn't be able to show preferential treatment to candidates (at least where money is concerned)... For instance if it costs 100k to run an add making one candidate pay 100k and allowing the other to pay 10k would be the same as a 90k campaign contribution.

Very good ideas. However, doesn't congress have to enact your proposed amendment? Remember, these are the same self-serving turds who were so quick to pass an amendment to limit the president to two elected terms, but didn't feel so compelled to curb their own stays in government. Good for thee, not for me... And the state houses aren't likely to ratify to rein in the DC pols legislative careers any more than they would their own. This is one of those little things that I believe the Founders didn't give enough thought to when they wrote the constitution. I guess they couldn't imagine that we the people would let these slick bastards make life-long careers out of a civic duty. AND set their own pay, lucrative benefits, and obscene pensions for only a few yrs service. Yeah, very good ideas, Serg, but unless you can naked pictures of most of them, I wouldn't hold my breath..

I think the real issue is spending limits.

In Canada, all three major parties combined, typically spend less than one American party spends in a single swing state. And the campaign is around 60 days rather than two years. Parties also receive a public subsidy based on percentage of vote received.

Terms limits are great, but it always leads back to the money.