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fn-mote | on: Lula wins election after final votes tallied
As optimistic as I want to be, this is the fourth term for a president?? That cannot be good for democracy.

It can be better than the alternatives and still not good.

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anonymous908213 | parent | next
The idea that you must fire your most competent employees after ~8 years on the job, in a exceedingly difficult job that requires on-the-job training, is in fact one of the most inane and damaging things to democracy.
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digitalPhonix | parent | next
Why? If they’re democratically voted, what’s wrong with it?

Australia has no term limits and has famously had the longest serving prime minister (12 years) followed by extremely short terms. All seemed to represent the general will of the population.

perilunar | root | parent | next
I wish Australia had term limits for all politicians, and not just for the PM. Term limits prevents people becoming career politicians, which i think would be a good thing.
shermantanktop | root | parent
The argument against aggressive term limits that I’ve read: there are many people making a career in politics as a whole—lobbyists, influence groups, party committees, etc. They have a huge advantage over the term-limited elected politician.

I’m not a political junkie but that makes sense to me. The critters who get your vote are just part of the system that runs the place.

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mixologic | parent | next
His first two terms were 2003-2011
surgical_fire | parent | next
Not in a row.

Lula served two terms from 2002-2010, and came back in 2022 (now to serve until 2030, if he lives until then).

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cowlevel | parent | next
It's very situationally dependent. Term limits stop bad politicians doing too much damage, they also stop good politicians getting too much momentum on their side.
bombcar | root | parent
Term limits result in dynasties "behind the scenes" running things.

Long-term politicians result in "behind the scenes" doing the real work of running things.

Wait a minute ...

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motionlessveloc | parent | next
Plus he's 80 today and will be 84 by the time his term ends. Gerontocracy for the win.
copperx | parent | next
There's a limit of two consecutive terms.
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eluru | parent | next
we dont have a lot of hoices in south america and he is top notch
trollbridge | parent | next
It’s good for Putin. He and Lula are allies, and their friendship goes way back.
Daishiman | root | parent
Let's do takes for the sake of takes.
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