Term Limits Don't Help

I've been against the idea of term limits in state legislatures ever since we put the question to a vote as an initiative here in California. Our proposition was a reaction to the very savvy political maneuvers of then Speaker of the House Willie Brown. The Republicans were going crazy trying to get the longest serving Speaker out of power legally, and when he outsmarted them again, an initiative was put on the ballot, and Willie Brown had to give up and become mayor of San Francisco. Now that the initiative system in California is totally beholden to special interest lobbying groups with enough money to spend on advertising, I've voted no on every initiative that's been on the ballot (except for the affirmative action and illegal immigration reforms when I was in college - I didn't yet know the initiatives would never hold up constitutionally and they should never have been put on the ballot to begin with). I voted no on term limits too, because with just three 2 year terms, our representatives are just getting good at their jobs before they leave forever. Also, because of their inexperience, they are too easily influenced by the lobbying and campaign groups who help them raise the money to get elected in the first place. Lobbyists in California are in more control of the legislative branch than the legislators themselves. It was an initiative that implemented that hare-brained free market energy trading scheme that got Governor Gray Davis, and us, in trouble to begin with. Why do you think we forced a recall on him with another initiative? I voted no on that too, but voted for Arnie in the special election. So, have term limits really helped us out? According to the AP, no. All these points I just wrote are right here:

"The difference under term limits is that these legislatures no longer have a small group of long-serving members whose leadership and expertise can guide a largely inexperienced legislature," the report said.

Since lawmakers are limited to as few as six years in office, jockeying for key leadership positions begins much earlier than in legislatures with unlimited tenures. Lack of experience can lead to increased influence by the executive branch, legislative staff and lobbyists, the report said.

"Term limits in states have done more to limit rather than enhance the effectiveness of the legislative branch," Karl Kurtz, director of state services at NCSL and a lead researcher in the study, said in a release. [Emphasis added]

In the 1990's, there was a lot of mistrust of our governments because of all the corruption scandals. There really was some linkage between all the ongoing investigations of the president at the time and the perception of corruption in the state governments, and also the feeling that something had to be done. Well, how is your confidence in your local rep these days? Is it really better? Do you feel as if they represent you, or do you feel as if they represent other groups, either with deep pockets or loud activists?