One of my "key solutions" to political gerrymandering in states (it's going to get worse, folks) and a strong armed lock on the Senate and House by the Taliban wing of the GOP (or either major party, for that matter) is term limits.
I've advocated the concept of terms limits for most of my politically aware life. It's not possible to govern in the interest of the governed when a) a representative is perpetually in a campaign mode (as most House members with two year terms are) and b) elected officials become too comfortable in their positions of power.
Career politicians, be they Democrat, Republican, or Venusian (I kid, I kid) will always be looking more toward their own best interests and maintaining the ideological purity of their party.
Term limits is a drum that needs to be beat loudly - but the drumbeat has to start at the local level and work its way up the political food chain. For example, there's simply no reason why a part time city council member needs to sit in the chair for 30 damn years.
Admittedly, the concept of term limits is one that goes against the survival instincts of politicians everywhere, which is why it's not a quick fix. But it's the one that will make a big difference in the long haul.
Many progressives are floating the idea (as it seems we do every four years) that America needs a viable and strong third party. Time-bounding the number of years that a politician could serve in a given elected position would help level the playing field a bit.
