Legislators for life?

When Charlie Rangel got charged with possible violations of House rules recently in Washington, it occurred to me--and I brought it up here--that, for pity's sake, he's 80 years old, why can't he just pack it in and go home? I mean, sure, he'd miss the power and the perks and maybe even the money, too, but at 80 years old, aren't you due, Charlie, for heading to the hacienda? Do you have to be a selfish, self-centered old goat and stay in the office virtually forever? Do you not think your constituents and, heck, possibly even the country couldn't be served by you stepping down and letting someone younger--say, 60??--with more energy and hopefully, ideas--get in there and do the job? Then I saw Sunday, in The Kansas City Star, in a Steve Kraske column, where our very own Ike Skelton has served 17 terms. Holy cow. Seventeen terms?? Again, is it not time to freaking step down?? And why do we, as voters, do this? Why do we keep voting these same people into office, time and again? Are we that lazy in the voting booth? Is that what it comes down to? It seems the answer is yes. Let's vote these old dudes out and get fresh blood, ideas and energy in there. Let's make this a better city/state/country to be in. Here's hoping.