House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer recently announced that she will move to a different town so she can run for re-election. Upmeyer, R-Garner, is making this move so she can seek office without having to run against fellow Republican incumbents Stew Iverson of Clarion or Henry Rayhons, also of Garner.

At the national level, the redrawing of congressional district boundaries after last year’s census meant that Republican congressional representatives Steve King and Tom Latham would run against each other, as would Democrats Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack.

To remedy this problem, Latham moved to Democrat Leonard Boswell’s district, and Loebsack moved a few miles to remain in the 2nd District.

These relocations are the latest examples of an apparently widespread refusal by politicians to give up their offices until they are defeated in elections. Instead of retiring after their parts in the play have finished, they insist on remaining in office.

We seem to have lost the understanding that citizenship — participating in public affairs — is something we should all have an opportunity to do. Holding public office is not something to be monopolized by a few people just because they’re done it for years and years.

In early America, as well as ancient Greece and Rome, the best politicians were ones who saw that the time had come for them to retire. Retirement from public office is not a shameful event. It is, rather, an acknowledgement that one’s own part has been played and that it is time for a new person to have a go at shaping the world.

Holding office is as much about letting others have their turns as it is about doing great things and achieving renown. The example George Washington set by serving only two terms shouldn’t just be emulated by U.S. presidents. His refusal to hold onto power for life, or for longer than was necessary, should instruct us all.