While the unrest in the Middle East is disconcerting for most people, some large-scale positive changes are underway. Protests that started in Egypt resulted in the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, a man who served for 30 years in that role. His removal has struck a blow to career politicians like Mubarak. According to a February 28, 2011 article in The Wall Street Journal, “Egypt's military rulers, hoping to set the stage for transparent democratic elections in six months, have unveiled a raft of proposed constitutional changes that include adopting a U.S.-style term limits of two four-year presidential terms.” This change would have never occurred if Mubarak stayed in office.
Stark differences exist in how the U.S. government enacted term limits as opposed to how Egypt is seeking to adopt them. Americans can thank George Washington for what eventually became the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which prohibits an American president from serving more than two full terms in office. President George Washington did not face much political opposition and could have stayed in office as long as he wanted, but after two terms, he resigned his post and returned to life on his farm in Virginia. Had Washington not decided to resign, the U.S. may have had protests like those in Egypt to effectuate change.
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