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Incumbents Out

by Open-Publishing - Monday 21 November 2005
4 comments

Elections-Elected Governments USA

Next year, we should all go to the polls and vote against every single incumbent running for re-election, regardless of his or her party or so-called philosophy.

Can you understand what a shock it would be if all 435 members of the U.S. House and the third of the Senate that will be running were defeated? Washington would never be the same again, and that, on its face, would be a good thing.

I know most folks feel about their congressional representative or senator the way most parents feel about their child’s school. The school system is a mess, but my kid’s school is pretty good. Congress has a bunch of scoundrels, but my representative is a pretty good person.

Well, he or she might be. That’s not the point. The point is that the present House and Senate of these United States have neglected the common good. They are literally making a mess of what was once and could be again a great country. They’re bankrupting it. They are allowing the manufacturing base to be stolen by cheap foreign labor. They won’t guard the borders. They have, in fact, sold out the American people to all the lobbyists who hover over them like a swarm of locusts. They let us get into wars we shouldn’t be in. They refuse to provide the vigorous oversight the Constitution authorizes. They even refuse to act like an independent branch of government. The Republican Party has, in effect, imposed on us the parliamentary system, where the legislature becomes the lap dog of the executive branch.

Throw ’em all out. Doing that would even help solve the federal-debt problem. Tossing out a representative or senator before he or she becomes vested in that pearl-of-the-universe retirement system they voted themselves would save taxpayers millions of dollars.

Six years in the House or Senate is enough for any citizen. Don’t get fooled by the so-called value of experience. The experience they gain is the same as whores and thieves. Inexperience can be a virtue, and experience can be a vice.

And, for heaven’s sakes, don’t worry that you might replace your incumbent with someone less qualified. The probability of finding people who could be more incompetent and neglectful of their duty than the present crop of politicians ranges between zero and minus one.

These nabobs and bloviators can’t even write a lucid law. I listened to them debate the other day, and what they were arguing about was an editorial statement they wanted to insert into a bill. A bill should not have any editorial statements in it.

We are a nation of 290 million people. In Washington, 435 members of the House, 100 senators, one vice president (if there is a tie in the Senate), one president and nine Supreme Court justices make all the laws and rules and regulations that govern us.

Are you telling me we can’t find 100 good men and women to replace the ones who have failed in their duty? That the present 435 members of the House represent the best people available in the United States? God forbid. We have not sunk that low. You could pick 535 men and women from any small city in America, pick them at random, and you’d have a vastly improved federal legislature.

You can walk down any street in America and find more common sense, good will, competence and concern for the public good than you can find in Washington.

Let’s face it, folks: We have allowed our political system to deteriorate to the point where it attracts incompetents, crooks and mountebanks. Public office is the only place where many of these people can hope to make a decent living. Ask yourself if you had ever heard of your representative before he or she got into politics. In most cases, the answer will be no. We no longer attract leaders; we manufacture office-seekers.

Well, we have the power. Just takes turning out, ignoring the lobbyist-paid-for campaign ads and voting against the incumbents. Do your representative and senator a favor. Bring them home to the folks they claim to love.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese237.html

Forum posts

  • But please do not vote out Ron Paul!

  • Well said, Mr. Reese. In fact, on October 16, I created a web site called Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy (VOID for short, at http://voidnow.org).

    Within a week, VOID had 5 volunteer staff, and received more than $500 in donations to the cause. We volunteers decided to take the web site to a full blown Organizaiton of the same name. We are commited to almost exactly the same premises and conclusions you write about in the above article. We would be pleased if you would visit our site, and lend us any advice you may have, since, you are well versed in anti-incumbent rationale, and are experienced in political campaigns.

  • I’m ALL for voting ALL incumbents out of office.
    The only way that we can force OUR EMPLOYEES to address the REAL problems of this country is to vote out those that won’t represent WE THE PWOPLE. So far I can think of 537 employees in DC that are not representing us.
    The only thing I ever agreed with Ross Parot on is:
    WE ARE THE OWNERS OF THIS COUNTRY!

  • Mr Charles Reese,

    That is, seriously, a very good idea.
    I have promoted that message for a year ( my site: http://One-Simple-Idea.com )
    and am a member of another organization that promotes that very idea ( http://VOIDnow.org ).

    You hit upon many good reasons, many of which I agree with completely.
    I especially like the following part:

    And, for heaven’s sakes, don’t worry that you might replace your incumbent with someone less qualified. The probability of finding people who could be more incompetent and neglectful of their duty than the present crop of politicians ranges between zero and minus one.

    That’s great. And, consider the many benefits:
    This ONE simple idea offers many benefits. Sure, you can nit-pick the idea, and maybe find some questions and arguments. Please do, and please tell us what they are. But, remember, that every journey starts with the first few steps. Please don’t overlook the many benefits, which most likely, outweigh the negatives (if any). These are the many benefits and reasons it could work:
    (01) SIMPLICITY: An important reason and benefit to "Vote ONLY for NON-incumbents" is because it is simple. Some will try to say it’s a bad idea because it is simple. But, it’s not merely simple. It is completely justified. Since 99% of all incumbents are fiscally and morally irresponsible and unaccountable, all incumbents vote for pork-barrel (while troops go without armor and adequate medical care), and all incumbents look the other way, why shouldn’t voters vote them all out? Unfortunately, that is the price the incumbents should pay for looking the other way. The People should merely do the one simple thing they should have been doing all along. Anything else is needlessly complicated. There is no good reason to make exceptions, since all incumbents are responsible for decades of fiscal and moral bankruptcy. The voters are guilty for allowing it, but the voters must now restore the balance of power between government and the people. The benefit of simplicity will increase likelihood of success. Besides, if some good politicians are voted out (if there are any), that’s the unfortunate price they pay for not policing their own ranks better. Voters can no longer afford to consider each politician individually, allowing them to continue to take turns being irresponsible and unaccountable. Thus, voters must treat government as one entity (one team), so that they will know that government (as a whole) is failing the people. It’s that simple. Keep it simple.
    (02) PEACEFUL FORCE: This idea provides the necessary FORCE required to give politicians sufficient incentive to do the right thing. Nothing else provides the peaceful FORCE that is required. Government will not do it themselves, and nothing else seems to be working.
    (03) PEER PRESSURE: An important reason and benefit to "Vote ONLY for NON-incumbents" is because it gives the politicians an incentive to police their own ranks, and pressure their fellow politicians to be more responsible. Congress and the Executive Branch of government should be treated as one entity/team. This is an effective tactic used by the military; often, the entire squad or platoon is punished for one person’s transgression, which creates internal peer pressure from the group on the transgressor to improve. This will give the politicians the incentive to police their own ranks. The benefit will be increased accountability and efficiency.
    (04) CANDIDATE CHOICES and FAIR ACCESS TO GET ON VOTING BALLOTS: The choice of candidates is not the fundamental problem anymore, because main-party partisan-bigots have limited your choices. And, it doesn’t seem to matter anymore WHO you vote for, because the system is dysfunctional, and good or well-meaning politicians, after being elected, are powerless to create responsible and accountable government. There are not sufficient incentives to force elected officials to be transparent, accountable, and responsible. Especially since some pandering politicians are almost immediately stricken with "jelly-brain" disease shortly after being elected to office, and forget many (or all) of their campaign promises (i.e. "read my lips"). The fundamental problem is the greed and corruption that takes over once some politicians are elected into office, which makes politicians and government dysfunctional. Also, voters should always still attempt to find new honest candidates to place on ALL ballots for ALL elections. But, the barriers to third parties trying to get onto voting ballots must be torn down. This is a serious problem, and it’s a serious violation of the Constitution.
    (05) BALANCE OF POWER: Politicians don’t have any power except for the power voters grant them.
    We must stop empowering them to continue the abuse and corruption. This one simple idea provides the force required to peacefully balance the power (not merely shift it, or strip government of power to accomplish anything) between government and the people. It merely encourages the people to do the thing they should have been doing all along: use their vote wisely and responsibly to make government be responsible too.
    (06) REDUCE CORRUPTION: It would reduce or eliminate Pork-Barrel spending, pandering, false promises to buy votes, waste, and it would reduce or eliminate graft and special-interest groups and lobbyists from gaining influence, favors, and power via bribery and illegal unethical campaign contributions. It will reduce greed and corruption (which is rooted in laziness), and it will reduce all of the negative things it breeds. Thus, it will increase productivity. Perhaps, even, taxes could be lowered? This plan will make elections much less expensive. There will be less reasons to send a lot of money to a party or candidate. It will help get the money out of politics. When money gets into politics and elections, they are rotten thereafter. Thus, elections can be won by candidates that are not wealthy, which would bring a much needed viewpoint to the government.
    (07) TERM LIMITS: It eliminates the need for term-limits. It would immediately eliminate the few truly bad career politicians that remain in office as long as they keep bringing home the pork. But, perhaps shorter terms should still be imposed anyway (i.e. more frequent elections) ?
    (08) FRUSTRATED VOTERS: The people are frustrated. Some main party voters are frustrated also, and they’re searching for answers, because they can see what we’re doing now is not working. Most voters are hard working Americans that are paying the majority of taxes, and they are not receiving money or benefits from the government. Perhaps, this ONE idea may be the one thing that is simple enough to resonate with voters. If a party (or all third parties combined) championed this ONE simple idea, they may possibly acquire more support then ever before. This idea is probably the one thing that some politicians hope the people will never discover. So spread the message.
    (09) A BETTER VOTING SYSTEM: We need more choices. The two main parties have effectively limited our choices to them alone, and they simply take turns gettin’ theirs, votin’ on pork-barrel, graft, and being irresponsible and unaccountable. Perhaps a change in the voting system should be considered too. Perhaps, something similar to the Approval Voting System . It may provide a better voting system, and it would also allow for more voting choices (candidates). The Approval Voting System is a more democratic voting system, that not only provides more choices (i.e. candidates), but also increases voter turn-out, provides minorities better representation, increases chances of the strongest candidate, eliminates the "Spoiler Effect" and the "Wasted Vote Syndrome" , reduces negative campaigning, and focuses more on issues than geographical areas. Some nations are already using this type of voting system. http://www.approvalvoting.org/benefits.html
    (10) FREEDOM and ABUNDANCE: Many other subsequent improvements will naturally follow, and the country would flourish and prosper knowing it has a plan, and is on a better path. Perhaps, taxes could be lower, while still providing for the truly needy, a strong national defense, better law enforcement and protection, and equal opportunity for all citizens.
    (11) IS WHAT WE’RE DOING NOW WORKING ?: Some say the definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing, and expecting a different result. Is what we’re doing working? Isn’t it about time for the people to also be responsible and do one simple thing that may peacefully bring about a more transparent, accountable, and responsible government? If government continues to be irresponsible, what was lost? Even if it doesn’t work, if nothing changes, then no harm has been done? With record level deficits, pork-barrel spending, mismanagement of Social Security, Congress voting themselves raises during it, does anyone need more proof that the system needs a jolt to somehow bring about a balance of power (not simply shift it) between government and the people? Nothing else seems to be working.
    (12) REDUCES THE INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY IN ELECTIONS: Voting for lesser known non-incumbent candidates helps to reduce the influence of big money in campaigns (i.e. from those that really hold the reins of power, that attempt to buy and own seats in government; government should not be for sale).
    (13) UNTIL when ? WHEN DOES IT END ? Only, when things get better (see answer above). And if government, ever again, forgets who they serve, implement this one-simple-idea.

    Now please SPREAD this one simple idea to: voters, internet, web-sites, political parties, news papers, blogs, friends, family, politicians, Senators, Representatives, etc.
    Feel free to copy this message & share it with everyone.
    Also see: VOID (Vote Out Incumbents Democracy) http://VOIDnow.org