Last week's Question of the Week asked whether Montana should reconsider term limits. The vote count was small because the question didn't make it onto our Web site until late in the week, but the tally for this unscientific poll was 84 for reconsideration and 50 against it.

Some readers' comments:

- Term limits has had a devastating effect on the Montana Legislature. People chair committees without enough experience either in the issues or the process. It takes time to learn the rules of procedure and decorum and while many are bright folks, the learning curve is simply too steep to make in one or two sessions. And, if anyone thinks this puts power into the hands of lobbyists, think again. The power has ended up in the executive branch and the Legislature is becoming a pawn instead of the policy arm of government.

- Absolutely not. Term limits provides better voter representation along with new ideas and less corruption. The U.S. Congress, without term limits, just received a 29 percent approval rating in a Gallup Poll because the professional politicians are more interested in getting re-elected and following their party leadership than representing the people. Term limits reduces the big advantage incumbents have in name recognition and raising money in elections. It better protects a fat, dumb and happy electorate that doesn't keep track of what their elected officials are doing.

- I am totally in favor of repealing term limits. As was clearly evidenced by the disgracefully puerile behavior of a handful of alleged adult legislators, term limits has resulted in a gross lack of civil discourse and collegiality. As with all politicians, if the voters don't like them, the voters can get rid of them!

- Term limits have worked well. They have brought new people and ideas to the forefront. The founders did not want a permanent ruling class of professional politicians, and yet that is exactly what we have. Term limits open the field to all comers, not just the party lackeys. I am very pleased with the new breed of Republicans this year that had the guts to stand up to a tyrannical dictator.