Voters in America by landslide majorities disapprove of how their government is being run. What is such a voter to do? Well there are three options, but, only one makes any logical sense if the goal is to improve how government is run.
The first is option is to kick the dirt in disgust and stay home on election day.
The second option is to go vote for the same politician you did last time and the time before that. You know, that same politician who, along with his/her fellow politicians, are responsible for this government being run the way it is.
The third option, and the only one that makes any logical sense, is to vote, and this time vote for the challenger, even if you have to hold your nose to do it. Why does this make sense? Because if the average reelection rate for U.S. Congress drops from around 92% to 60%, the majority of politicians will develop a new found respect for the voters who just might kick their butt out next time around.
Politicians won't improve government unless we voters improve our sense of responsibility for electing and UNelecting them.
David R. Remer
Vote Out Incumbents Democracy
And it ain't likely to get better as long as voters repeatedly reward do-nothing Congress with 85-to-90% re-election rates.
Have you ever wondered why we never see more than one candidate in the SAME party. This is another clever mechanism to make the incumbent politicians' cu$hy, coveted incumbencies more secure.
Political Parties have but one goal and master, taking and keeping power. All other goals are subservient to this one master. And therein lies the corruption of democracy as it was intended and hoped for by our founding fathers. With all their wisdom and knowledge of their age, they could not foresee the coming of the detrimental consequences of political parties.
We however, have the benefit of hindsight which they did not. It is now up to us to improve on the brilliance that founded this noble experiment in government of, by, and for the people. It is up to us to breathe life into that dream and make it a reality.
David in many states there are 3rd party candidates running for state and federal offices on the ballot as well as the dems and repubs. I mention this because it might make holding the nose a little easier to do.
After reading information on VOID in the past year I have started working on getting my representative in Congress un- elected. Ive started looking up her record and noticed that despite her claims to the contrary she doesnt really represent the small business community and most other folks in her district that dont go to the same church as her. With this information I have written to the local paper's opinion column calling her on the issues. Armed with the research I have done and my big mouth I have started discussing the issues with others I meet and will continue to do so in an effort to get her a new job. As time allows I will be writing to other newspapers opinion columns in the district.
What other steps does VOID recommend in the effort to unseat these incumbents?
Couldn't agree more, j2t2. Ultimately, as I said to d.a.n above, political parties serve but one master, power. But, in the case of third parties, they are forced by their third party status to make their platform reflect the will of their constituents as the means to achieving power. Which elevates their motives above the duopoly party system in control today.
Bravo, j2t2. So many readers at VOID nod their head in agreement just before returning to their habitual support of their incumbent as the lesser of two evils, as they see it. Your action is to be highly commended, and trust that you are not alone in this effort, as nels96's comments below attest. Many of us are working along side you in our own communities to achieve the same end, a better future for us all by removing those who would prevent it, from office.
To act, despite the suspicion that the act may be futile, is the true measure of heroic deeds. To act because it is the right thing to do, though few others will acknowledge it at first, is the hallmark of great people in our nation's history. Where would women's suffrage, ethnic civil rights, or child labor relief be today, if some determined and heroic individuals had not first charted a course against the stream of the status quo?
This is the hardest step for most folks, translating what they know should be, into actions which give birth to what should be. I will be pointing others to your comments as a demonstration of how a bit of determination and courage can translate into real heroic action.
Well, at this stage raising awareness of the logic and motivating citizens to act on that knowledge is key. However, as this action grows, the next stage when the public pressure reaches a critical mass, is lobby Congress to close the wealth and power door after leaving office. Too many wannabe politicians seek office, NOT for service to the people and the nation's future, but for the revolving door to wealth and power after office on K Street with wealthy special interest and corporate lobbyist firms.
The people need their own lobby, not based on profiting from inside deals with Congress persons, but, based on insuring that political office is treated as a privilege to serve the people, not oneself at the expense of the people. Closing the revolving door from political office to K Street lobbyist firms will become stage 2.
But, we must first achieve an awareness and acceptance by a large minority of voters that voting out corrupt, ineffective, and incompetent politicians is their birth right, their responsibility, and their obligation when in their opinion, government is failing to meet its obligations to the them.
And there are growing signs in the public discourse and public participation media that this critical mass is growing. VOID's objectives are reflected in the rhetoric of both McCain's and Obama's campaigns. This is crucial to the future success of the vote out incumbents for democracy movement. While I have little doubt that these candidates are patronizing the public with this rhetoric, they are nonetheless, forced to promote the reflection of the people's intent to change the corrupt system that now exists.
And we who understand the power of the VOID concept, must continue to inform and guide those discontent with government failures, toward the wisdom of voting out their incumbent representatives and voting in the challengers with the mandate to serve the people's American dream, or be removed on election day.
I am honored to be in your company, j2t2.
Stop repeat offenders.
Don't repeatedly rewarding them with re-election.
Some years ago it became apparent to me that politics stinks, and that the stinkiest part of politics is the US Congress. Judging from the fact that voter participation in all our elections runs from 40 to 50%, apparently a great many voters agree, and simply don’t vote
So I made myself a commitment to start a campaign to “Tro Da Bums Out!” (All of them)
First, I looked at Term Limits. Since 75% of Americans want term limits for Congress, I thought it would be easy. But... we need to get a bill for term limits thru Congress FIRST, which ain’t never gonna happen!
Then I looked at Article V of the Constitution, which says that “the people” could have a “convention for proposing amendments”. But this was already tried by Bill Walker of www.foavc.org, and bounced by the Supreme Court in 2004, erroneously (imho), and should be attempted again. But we should wait for a more ‘originalist’ court.
Finally, after listening to many website discussions on this topic, I have come to realize that there is one unstoppable, foolproof method of achieving the goal of reforming Congress. Simply put, we voters must never reelect anyone in Congress.
If enough voters stick to this simple principle thru several election cycles, reelections in Congress would plummet. This would have a major impact on the behavior of all incumbents remaining in Congress. Furthermore, the many freshmen elected in such a changed election climate would have no doubt that they will be serving very brief terms unless they vote as responsible legislators instead of party hacks. And they would be much more likely to vote for a term limits amendment bill just to serve more than one term.
The big question is: How do we get Americans to stop reelecting their lousy Congress? We don’t have to succeed 100%. Just enough to drop House reelections from its current 98% down to about 65%. That’ll get their attention!
And if we keep it up thru 2010, 2012, and 2014, we will make a big difference.
When the media talks about the new trend, many, many people who haven’t been voting will start voting again because they’ll see they can make a difference.
A second question will be: Who should I vote for if I don’t want to reelect my incumbent? Suggestions for both Democrats or Republicans:
1. If your guy was opposed in your primary, and lost, vote for the guy who beat him.
2. If he was opposed in the primary, and won, vote for the other major party guy.
3. If the other major party guy also won an unopposed primary, then vote for any 3rd party.
What we want is a 100% turnover in Congress, on BOTH sides of the aisle.
Remember the objective here is to defeat all incumbents of both major parties, so the simplest decision is to vote for any 3rd party candidate. Or, when in doubt, vote ‘em out!
Nelson Lee Walker of tenurecorrupts.com, Saratoga, CA
Nels96, the vote out incumbents discussion is growing and permeating through the non-traditional media like blogs, social networks, and word of mouth. This is very, very encouraging. Folks like yourself are at the forefront of spreading that logic and rational course for this new generation of voters.
I commend you and your wisdom and effort to promote a better future for America and Americans by forcing the hand of the political parties and their nominees for Congress through the Vote Out Incumbents FOR Democracy understanding.
People can balk all they want at the message, but, the fact remains, there was never, ever, any need for voting, if those in office were expected to remain in office. The ONLY reason our founding fathers endorsed the concept of democracy and the vote was to give the people the power to REMOVE politicians from office. Politicians will legislate themselves into permanent residence in government if allowed to. We have witnessed this time and again with these abominable laws which cater to the wealthy special interests to underwrite the reelection campaigns of incumbents.
The only reason for the vote, is to remove corrupt, ineffective, and incompetent politicians from office, opening the door to challengers who will choose earn the right to remain in office. No other rationale for the vote makes any sense.
Keep up the great work, and know that what you are doing is truly heroic and herculean. You are not alone in this effort, and the numbers awaking to these fundamental facts about democracy and voting, are growing. Let this awareness maintain your hope and motivation.
Yes, there are now more independent voters than either Democrat or Republican.
That trend is likely to continue, as the voters are increasingly motivated by the painful consequences of repeatedly rewarding bad politicians with perpetual re-election.
But, perhaps enough voters will be less apathetic, complacent, and blindly partisan when enough of the voters are deep in debt , jobless , homeless , and hungry ? Perhaps the voters aren't feeling enough pain yet from illegal immigration and these other abuses?
At any rate, the voters have the government that the voters elect.
Right Nels96 !
Vote smart.
And if in doubt, Vote 'em Out !