The White House and Congress

This is to register my opposition to term limitations on members of Congress. Not only is it an unwarranted encroachment on the electoral process, it is also a blind, mindless mechanism that will arbitrarily sweep out outstanding legislators along with the bad, and will replace modest talents possessing valuable experience with modest talents having none.

Congress has always undergone a steady, normal turnover, as exemplified in the current electoral season. The rapid turnover that will accompany mandated term limitations is universally regarded as a debilitating drain in every other working organization. What suddenly makes it such a great objective for Congress?

Women should be deeply concerned about term limitations. How will it be when the numerous women sure to be elected this fall will be forced to leave just as some of them are gaining significant influence and moving toward key committee chairs?

Finally, Congress is taking all the bad rap that should rightfully be shared not only with an executive branch whose Iran-Contra production still plays before an attentive audience, but also with an electorate that elected a President who has now recorded his 30th veto.

JEROME S. HOPKINS

Oxnard