Term limits fight radicalization

Marcy Kaptur and Rob Portman recently made announcements about their political futures. Kaptur will seek another term in 2022 while Portman will call it quits. Kaptur, a Democrat, first assumed office in January 1983 and has served uninterrupted since then. Democrats don't want her to stop because her name has recognition and is more likely to garner votes than a newcomer. Republicans want her to retire to have a chance at gaining another seat. I thought more about their announcements during my weekly route to the grocery store. I noticed my drive is finally free of 2020 political signs, which persisted longer this year than in any election in recent memory. I think support for career politicians like Kaptur and the desire to keep political signs up have similar origins: radicalization. My side is better than your side. Or, my team is better than your team. Americans have an unhealthy infatuation with politicians. I'm a regular listener of a podcast that features two people from America, one from England and one from Australia. All of them work in the entertainment industry but have different backgrounds and careers and cover many topics. They recently discussed free speech, culture and policing differences between the three countries. The idea of purchasing merchandise for politicians is absurd outside of the United States. But in America, it has become normal to worship politicians as if they're a sports team. Banners, flags, hats, jackets, shirts, bumper stickers, and, yes, even tattoos have been made in honor of presidential candidates. I'm not just talking about Donald Trump, although he did further popularize it. I saw several Biden flags and shirts in our community, too. American politicians are not royalty. They are public servants whose terms need expiration dates not for political reasons but for the health of our democracy. Yes, Trump has served just one term but it seems many Republicans supported him ferociously not because of who he is but because they want their team to win. Biden supporters did the same. Some care more about the letter next to the name than the name itself. The non-American hosts of that podcast argued politicians should be criticized and evaluated as public servants and not as avatars for a cause. Politicians are supposed to be like disposable silverware; a short-term tool to be replaced. The hosts also talked about how so-called liberal ideas in America are considered conservative in other countries. This further illustrates the radicalized nature of American politics. Portman, in his retirement announcement, said the gridlock in Washington has become harder to break through. Republicans are leaning further right than ever before. Likewise, Democrats keep going further left. It's almost as if the parties are like poker players who continuously bet and raise to try to stay on top. The result, it seems, is people so invested in the hand that they'll do anything to win. That manifests in the purchase of candidate merchandise, and worship. Going back to Kaptur, it seems Democrats don't want to lose even if that means stagnation. Although Kaptur hasn't done anything to warrant fierce opposition, the need for someone new is obviously the healthy choice. The same is true for politicians like Mitch McConnell and other lifetimers. I suggest we, the voters, break the chain. That starts by voting out career politicians regardless of their political affiliation. This will require a desire to further American democracy rather than submit to the two-party poker game. We should push for term limits, or impose them ourselves with our vote, to bring fresh perspectives. The stakes are very real. Instead of betting with chips, politicians are gambling with our democracy. Who cares if they risk everything, a politician might think, if the result is a win. But the ends don't justify the means. Radicalization has a lasting impact.