Stephanie brought this up on another thread last night, and I had been meaning to write about so? Now is a good of time as any. The site for more information on VOID is linked above, VOID means "Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy". I write at Watch Blog at times and even prior to the creation of this site the idea of voting out the incumbents has been one that has been discussed.
It is a very simple plan and one that is easy to implement. All it requires is do not vote for the incumbent. David R. Remer provides alot of information at his site so I'm not going to go into all the details/reasons that he and others have written about there. I agree with the majority of those but I also have some additional thoughts as to why I feel this is necessary.
Back in May when I was still a beginning blogger I wrote a post on the Perils of the Two Party System. I'm not going to re-post everything I wrote then, but I do truly believe that our founding fathers did not create our government to have the current two party system. Infact they advised against it. However I have had to come to the realization that under the present system the chances of a third party coming into play is slim. The majority of problems we have right now as far as government being larger than it is supposed to be and spending more than it is supposed to directly relates to these career politicians who put party and lobbyists first before who they are supposed to represent...Us...
In the Senate right now there is only one Independent. In the House 231 Republicans, 202 Democrats, 1 Independent. While in the history of the Senate there has always been a "majority and a minority" party since the 35th Congress back in 1857 it has been either the Republican (41 times) or the Democratic Party (33 times) who has had the majority. (I did not count 107th Congress (2001-2003) both parties held the majority twice.)
Most of the history in the Senate there has only been one or no other party representation besides the Majority/Minority. With the exception of the 55th (5 Populist; 5 Silver Republican; 2 Silver) and 56th (5 Populist; 3 Silver Republican; 2 Silver) Sessions. This to me shows historically that while the parties may change, the focus of the power has been on two. The difference now is that the political parties have more influence. It does not appear likely that either the Republican or the Democratic Parties are going to face a serious challenge from a third party.
To quote from the mission statement of VOID:
If a small but growing percentage of these Americans will show up in 2006, 2008, and 2012 to vote for the challenger and against the incumbent, American politics will change and we, and our children, will all reap the benefits of a more responsible democracy in the halls of our government.
I believe this can work and hope you consider it.
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17 comments:
I have no problem voting out incumbents, provided the challengers are viable candidates.
However, what if your choices were Ed Emery and Opal Covey?
:-}
I think the only way this will work is if everyone for every race writes me in. If I fill all the elected positions, I will not play politics or behave in a solely partisan manner with myself.
Mike, if our choices were Ed Emery and Opal Covey? I'd probably pick Opal, after all a new amusement park might be nice.....
Or decide me4's idea has merit and write him in for everything...
:-)
I have some great ideas for rejuvenating our urban areas while protecting the rural from encroachment. I will also give myself paycuts for every position I hold since I will be making something from all of them.
If the MA people could only vote out the ex-drunk, ex-bad bridge driving leave drowning girlfriend in bay water, let me rephrase the same goddamn question over 100 times in a justice confirmation process over a week Teddy Kennedy, then the world can start to heal.
Another option besides VOID is have two term limits in every elected position in the country. There have been crazier ideas.
Or vote me4 for everything.
I try to evaluate what each incumbent has done with the term they were elected to, and try to determine if someone else can do better, given the chance.
Almost anyone talking a good game can get my vote once. Keeping my vote though is based on performance.
Unfortunately, I am just one voter amongst them asses.
(that last sentence should have read as ...the masses. ;-)
Actually, HT, I thought you were accurate the first time! ;-)
Lisa, I got my first comment-spam last night...though it was in the form of e-mail from Blogger! All with no hamsters...quite an accomplishment!
Fortunately, with Haloscan, comment spam is hard for the spammers to pull off. Unfortunately, Haloscan is crazier than Cindy Sheehan at a MoveOn rally!
Jonathan, you have now formally arrived, however with the power of the hamsters it could have happened earlier.
:-)
Now that I'm a "large mammal" I supposed I should technically give up the hamsters. But I can't, so I have justified it in my mind that compared to ants? Hamsters are large.
Lisa, thank you for your well written article, and your support for the Void Out Incumbents for Democracy mission.
I had to smile when reading through many of the comments above. It occured to me that many of the commenters never followed the links you provided, never researched what it was you were talking about, and yet, felt quite comfortable offering their opinion on the concept of VOID.
Isn't that a basic problem with voters in America today? Democracy is hard work. This has been true since our founding fathers said centuries ago. And never more true than today. Yet, voters like many of the commenters above, want to read something for 1 or 2 minutes, make a decision, voice it and move on with their lives.
But, government cannot be assessed in 1 or 2 minutes. Nor can a candidate for office. Nor can a bill proposed in Congress. Nor can even a simple concept like VOID be summed in a paragraph or two.
Voters get the government they deserve. Another cliche which is so because it is so true. VOID has received many visitors who have left a comment similar to, "what a great concept". But did they donate money to the cause? Did they volunteer 1-2 hours a week to help spread this great concept to fellow Americans? No and No! American voters are lazy and unmotivated by and large regarding their government and elections. Do they really believe someone else will step up and do the heavy lifting for them if they just voice their assent?
It doesn't work that way. If many of your commenters above would spend the time you did in writing this article, peforming some action that would carry the word of Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy, the quality of our government might actually improve rather quickly.
I thank you for doing your part to spread the word and further the cause. I would urge your commenters to emulate your fortitude and determination to actually do something, donate, volunteer, rather than just sit back in their easy chair typing in lip service to doing something.
With appreciation for the doers and a strong rebuke for those who act as though their comments are worth something without action.
Lisa Renee,
"Stephanie brought this up on another thread last night..."
Thank you! I always appreciate it when people notice me. Except, of course, during an excerise in public speaking, then I'd rather they not. :-)
For me, supporting VOID started with my experiences on Watchblog. It's absolutely amazing how many good, workable ideas there are out there that could and would improve our government, if only our "representatives" would impliment them. Instead, we have powerful incumbents who're more concerned with securing their positions than representing their constituents. Talk (like what goes on over at Watchblog) is great, but I'm glad to be putting my money where my mouth is, and investing my time in VOID.
Thanks for your support, Lisa! It's very much appreciated!
cyberseaer,
"Another option besides VOID is have two term limits in every elected position in the country."
There are two problems with that idea. First, it is currently unconstitutional. While that could change, it wouldn't be an easy process. Second, you'd be relying on the same incumbents who've held their positions for numerous terms to vote it through.
There are really great ideas out there on how to improve this country, most or all of which will NOT be implimented while the incumbents maintain their strangle-hold on our federal government.
Stephanie,
You are correct on those points. I know that the idea of two term limit will never pass, but I like to live in Utopia one day. ;)
Rene,
Thank you for the support.
Further proof that government, for the most part, is irresponsible and unaccountable is corroborated by a challenge I posted several times for people to name 10, 20, 50, 100, or even 218 (half of the 435 in Congress) that they believe are responsible and accountable. After days, only 5 or 6 were named. And, for the few names listed, it was all too easy to show where these persons (supposedly the best) vote on pork-barrel, vote on waste, do unethical things, look the other way, fuel the petty partisan warfare, are consumed with collecting money from big money donors, and often, don't even show up to vote. So, why is it no one can provide a list of even 10 or 20 or 50 persons? Because it doesn't exist. And, if not even 218 (half within Congress) are responsible and accountable, then one can only logically conclude that government, for the most part, is irresponsible and unaccountable. The problem is too widespread to hope that government will reform itself. Only The People can make it happen now. And, they will, eventually. Thus, why shouldn't The People do the most logical, inexpensive, and responsible thing to peacefully restore a balance of power between government and The People (not merely shift it, or strip government of all power to accomplish anything), and peacefully force government to be responsible and accountable too?
Corruption within government is actually quite natural.
It's the result of a natural human tendency to prosper by the least amount of effort. It's rooted in laziness. While it is a natural human tendency, it is immoral to surrender to it completely.
But, that's what all governments do as time progresses. They continually grow more and more corrupt until they are forced to reform. Then it starts all over again. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is, until the people understand this simple truth, and force government to be transparent, enforce the laws and rules, and never ignore government. To ignore government, invites abuse. If allowed to grow too corrupt for too long, as the U.S. now has, the more difficult it is to reform it, and the more severe and painful the eventual correction will be. To believe otherwise is to ignore history and human psychology ( http://home.comcast.net/~d.a.n/The80YearCycle.gif ).
Thus, I support VOID too. I personally believe The People should seriously consider this peaceful, constructive, responsible approach, and it should be soon, because I don't think the U.S. can withstand even one more decade of fiscal and moral bankruptcy. Many say history repeats itself. Many believe our only choice is to let things run their course. They may be correct. But, I can not resign to futility and despair. We may repeat history. We may have to learn the hard way (again). But, doing nothing will only guarantee it. So, why not try to resolve the problem the smart, responsible, least painful way. And, if we succeed, we may avoid a repeat of history, and instead, make history.
Good post Lisa. The time is ripe for an anti-incumbent campaign.
I'm personally for seeing either Independent or 3rd Party cnaidates being elected. Both major parties have been looking out for their own intrest sense I can remember. And that goes back around 40 years or so.
There are 435 Congressional seat and about 33 Senate seats up for reelection in 2006. If challengers can get even just 1/4 of those seats, it just might make the rest of Congress wakeup and smell the coffee.
When do the commercials start running? It will be nearly impossible to get a TRUE grass roots movement rolling without the media forces.
Commercials? Or, perhaps, more appropriately, Political Ads?
That may be a while.
They're very expensive.
Maybe the media would cover it for free if it weren't orchestrated by any organization. Such as people themselves organizing in various ways to help educate others. However, VOID also hopes that those that may finally have a voice in government, those that advocate the idea of VOIDnow.org, to vote out incumbents, will sieze the opportunity to promote the idea over various forms of media (TV, radio, blogs, print, etc.). VOID hopes all parties will embrace the idea, though it's unlikely the parties of the incumbents will support the idea.
The People, third parties, independents, and the disaffected that usually don't vote, will hopefully recognize the logic of simply doing the one responsible thing they should have been doing all along. Had voters been paying closer attention, the reform that we now face would not be so gigantic.
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