Like Lazarus, the specter of longer careers for our legislators has risen from the grave. And, like Lazarus, this corpse doesn’t look any better now than it did when it was buried by the voters a decade or so ago.

While a limit of eight years was the clear choice of voters, it has always been a hair shirt for legislators. Most of those folks in Augusta like their work – and want more of it. There’s no heavy lifting, the pay ain’t too shabby and they get pretty colored license plates for their cars, pleasing enough in itself to some.

Despite whimpers from time to time, legislators never have had the courage to directly challenge the issue themselves; instead, they ask for permission – “Is it all right if I go out with the boys tonight?” Hence, the question on the ballot asks how we feel about it. The fact that it is designed to become law is not specified. Clever folk, these lawyers-in-training. Will the next “opinion question” take us all the way to the good old days?

Can anyone imagine what four additional years of philosophers who consider self-created proposals such as: “Exempt Those over 65 From Taxes” or “Protect Affluent People From Discrimination” or “Prohibit Same Sex Bathrooms” – all of which graced the agenda of the current Legislature – could do to public health and sanity?

They might even have time to extend their new skills to international diplomacy. This same group of statesmen (statesfolks?) considered a resolution to “Condemn the Canadian Government for Killing Baby Seals.” With another four years, Maine could achieve the distinction of criticizing Spain for Bullfights, France for Eating Horse Meat and England for Warm Beer.

While experienced men and women mean a great deal to the law-making process, they are hardly irreplaceable. There are a multitude of ready and willing volunteers to take their place – especially since the path to power is paved with contributions from the state treasury under the glowing term, “clean elections.” Ninety percent of incumbents are inevitably re-elected. Why, then, is the “clean election” largesse necessary for incumbents for four more years?

In the case of impecunious but deserving beginners, or just plain nerds who are short of funds but anxious to share in the pleasure of making our laws, free campaign money may be justified. But it seems wasteful to continue that bi-annual donation of 7 to 15 “large” – as they say on ‘The Sopranos” – to each of them for another two terms. After a previous four trips to the lawn sign factory, the horse’s true color is likely to be already obvious.

Two states with term limits illustrate: California has 36 million people, Maine has 1.2. California has a Legislature of 120. Maine has 186. To equalize would be to provide 5,580 seats in the Maine State House. Maine legislators not only hear and understand the people, they practically are the people. They don’t need four more years to take their own pulse.

They argue that 12 years will develop wisdom among incumbents. They also maintain that 12 years are needed for them to gain skills and knowledge for the power struggles that beset the legislative branch of government. It is possible to agree to the first of these vindications – extra terms may well retain some able performers. But extra terms will also preserve layabouts who do little but fill chairs, chairs better given to youth and beauty. If the second of these assertions were true – that extra years will give legislators the moxie to win wars with bureaucrats and lobbyists – maybe we should have a boot camp for beginning parliamentarians: Eight weeks in Fort Kent with Professor John Martin.

As Frederick the Great said, “If length of service is to decide leadership, I have three war horses that should be generals.”

Rodney Quinn, who lives in Gorham, is a freelance writer and former Maine secretary of state.