Small Friendly Conservative Safe/Affordable to Retire

[Floorist]

Why not the Nevada, Lamar, Joplin area? Clean, low on crime, conservative, lower cost of living. Good schools, numerous colleges.

[SunGrins]

Originally Posted by RisingAurvandil

I feel the same way. I know it's unpopular to say this, but I've always felt that the decline in institutional competence occurred soon after we instituted legislative term limits. It removed any sliver of long-term incentive to build legacy or form relationships with constituencies. It's all about short-term gain now.

Indeed. You and I agree -- I've been on a soapbox against term limits for a while (not just a Missouri problem). We see the craziness in Congress and looney antics in state legislatures and wonder why they seem incompetent. It's a result of several threads coming together: dark money, lobbying and interest groups, inexperience, one-issue candidates, and term limits.

Term limits are a lazy way to correct a problem of poor voter participation and reduced civic involvement or awareness in general. Voters should vote an unproductive or unresponsive representative out of office, not establish some arbitrary term limits and assume the problem is solved. They'll just elect someone worse if they let money and interest groups decide which inexperienced person runs for office.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by SunGrins

Indeed. You and I agree -- I've been on a soapbox against term limits for a while (not just a Missouri problem). We see the craziness in Congress and looney antics in state legislatures and wonder why they seem incompetent. It's a result of several threads coming together: dark money, lobbying and interest groups, inexperience, one-issue candidates, and term limits.

Term limits are a lazy way to correct a problem of poor voter participation and reduced civic involvement or awareness in general. Voters should vote an unproductive or unresponsive representative out of office, not establish some arbitrary term limits and assume the problem is solved. They'll just elect someone worse if they let money and interest groups decide which inexperienced person runs for office.

Agreed 100%

[TRex2]

Originally Posted by RisingAurvandil

I feel the same way. I know it's unpopular to say this, but I've always felt that the decline in institutional competence occurred soon after we instituted legislative term limits. It removed any sliver of long-term incentive to build legacy or form relationships with constituencies. It's all about short-term gain now.

Interesting. I have seen a decline in competence (since, at least, 2004 when I really began watching) in places where there were no term limits, but maybe it is a different kind of decline in competence. You specified "institutional competence." In my experience, the long term residents seem to care more about building a self serving legacy, and forming relationships with other congresscritters, lobbyists, and party big wigs, than their constituencies.

Originally Posted by SunGrins

Indeed. You and I agree -- I've been on a soapbox against term limits for a while (not just a Missouri problem). We see the craziness in Congress and looney antics in state legislatures and wonder why they seem incompetent. It's a result of several threads coming together: dark money, lobbying and interest groups, inexperience, one-issue candidates, and term limits.

I see some pretty loony antics in national legislators, as well. Usually term limits are seen as a counter measure against dark money, lobbying and interest groups.

Term limits are a lazy way to correct a problem of poor voter participation and reduced civic involvement or awareness in general. Voters should vote an unproductive or unresponsive representative out of office, not establish some arbitrary term limits and assume the problem is solved. They'll just elect someone worse if they let money and interest groups decide which inexperienced person runs for office.

My (admittedly, heavy handed) solution would be to require civics tests before people could vote. While this would move the behavior (and reduce the number) of the voters, it would be a difficult sell in the US, today.

Not sure I would want to pursue this topic here, since it is, somewhat, off topic. Maybe we could take it up in another forum. (Would appreciate suggestions.)

[sub]

The idea of terms limits came into being long before social media with eyes glued to screens and the social ineptness that followed.
Not saying term limits were the magic pill they were made out to be anyway, but modern culture exacerbates the problems.
The basic idea of term limits isn't horrible in and of itself.
Not sure why keeping 90 year-olds in congress is such a great idea when they can barely form a sentence. 70 seems to be pushing it for a lot of them...
clearing throat...............
Past the 20 year mark corruption sets in deep.

Oh yeah, the thread.
Go to the other part of this website, the 'data' part of C-D, and check the crime stats on whatever town you're interested in.
Missouri has plenty of safer options and the vast majority of them will be conservative or at least moderate. Affordability is generally not a problem either.

[TRex2]

Originally Posted by sub

...
Oh yeah, the thread.
Go to the other part of this website, the 'data' part of C-D, and check the crime stats on whatever town you're interested in.
Missouri has plenty of safer options and the vast majority of them will be conservative or at least moderate. Affordability is generally not a problem either.

Yes, that is a good idea. I think I will go there too.

A move may be in my future, after all.

My wife informs me that she would like to live somewhere without a gravel road leading to the house, and a 9 to 19 percent grade running across the lawn. (It does make mowing a challenge.)