Vote Out Incumbents Democracy

VOID Site Directory


Archives:

Recent Posts

Select Category


">

February 28, 2006

Irresponsible incumbents are fleecing the American taxpayer

A business tax credit originally put into law in 1980, has been abused by the synthetic-fuel industry to fleece the American taxpayers billions of dollars each year! From 2003 through 2005, TIME magazine estimates the synfuel industry raked in $9 billion in tax credits. Intended at the beginning to help the United States become more energy independent, lobbyists are now spending millions per year perpetuating the scam.

Continue reading "Irresponsible incumbents are fleecing the American taxpayer" »

Legislation is often bogged down because of partisanship

Washington is "broken" right now, according to former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell; he says the current "brutal partisanship" dims the chance for political leadership in many arenas.

Continue reading "Legislation is often bogged down because of partisanship" »

February 27, 2006

VOID: A political action association.

UPDATE: March 17, 2006. The Board is reconsidering its vote discussed below. The President is seeking legal counsel on this matter as there may still be value in organizing as a 501(c)4 while local chapters operate as independent organizations under IRS code 527. (End of Update).

The Board convened yesterday and voted unanimously to organize VOID as a political action association, and forego attempts to seek tax exemption under the Charitable Organization rules of the IRS. In technical terms, this means VOID is organizing under the guidelines of the IRS 527 Code instead of the 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 codes.

Continue reading "VOID: A political action association." »

February 21, 2006

One Voter's Perspective

It past time to start taking major action to wrest our government from the hands of the two parties most likely to do it harm: the Democrats and the Republicans. In fact, if we don't do something right now, it will be too late. A major portion of the incumbents for a third of the Senate seats and a great many of the House of Representatives seats coming up for vote in November are corrupted candidates who have already done us harm.

Continue reading "One Voter's Perspective" »

February 20, 2006

Doing our homework!

The Board has delayed this month's meeting in order to review laws regarding activities such as ours. I have spent many dozens of hours refreshing and updating my knowledge of 501(c)3 charitable organizations in the IRS code with the intent of charting a path toward VOID pursuing that IRS acknowledged status for tax purposes.

My study however, also took me to review the web of laws found in the IRS code section 527 and FEC (Federal Election Commission) regulations regarding political organizations. The Board will be meeting sometime in the following week after reveiwing in detail the volume of information regarding tax exemption under each IRS category.

We hope to have some very good news to announce shortly after that meeting. Stay tuned!

Who and What is VOID?

Who: Vote Out Incumbents Democracy, (VOID), is a group of volunteers from all major political perspectives from conservative to liberal. VOID Supporters and volunteers hail from all around the United States. We know that our political system and political parties are corrupt. They have eroded the principles of our democratic republic which were designed to serve the nation, its States, and their people; not the power struggle between the political parties. Their corruption has in turn, corrupted our government. Far too often, our elected officials in Congress serve their careers and party as their first priorities.

What: VOID is a PAC. PAC stands for Political Action Committee, or "527" in IRS parlance. VOID is, however, a unique kind of PAC. First, VOID is an unconnected PAC, which means our organization is not affiliated with any candidates, political parties, corporations, or other organizations. Second, VOID is all volunteer. To date we have no employees and none of VOID's funds are used to pay any VOID personnel or supporters for any work performed. Lastly, unlike most other PAC's, VOID does not advocate for any political party, candidates, or issue other than responsible, efficient, and accountable government. VOID takes no position on political issues like abortion, or war, or any other issues not directly related to responsible, efficient, and accountable governance.

VOID seeks to achieve political reform and vastly better governance by organizing voters to vote out incumbents in sufficient numbers, as to change how politicians conduct themselves and our government. As of the 2004 elections, incumbents had enjoyed a 90+ percent reelection rate no matter how badly government or politicians performed. Which means there is no incentive for politicians to change their ways.

By organizing voters to lower that incumbency rate significantly, we can demand better governance and politics in return for our vote. This is the power of the vote granted to voters by our laws. All that remains is enough voters exercising that power in an organized fashion. That is our mission, to educate and organize voters around this Constitutional power of the vote, demanding better politics and government from our elected officials at all levels of government.

Click here for a history of how Vote Out Incumbents Democracy began, and its future.
Click here to read our Mission Statement in full.

(rev. 03-11-10)

February 19, 2006

How our political system is corrupt

In Washington these days, you have to "pay to play" the game, if you hope to influence legislation to your benefit; but first, you must see that your money goes to the politicians who you believe will produce the greatest return for your "investment" (i.e. campaign contributions and lobbying).

Continue reading "How our political system is corrupt" »

February 18, 2006

House Resolution 4694

On Feb. 1, 2006, U.S. Representative David Obey (D-WI) introduced House Resolution 4694, the so-called Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act. The bill pretends to be a campaign-finance reform plan. If passed, the measure would, among other things, forbid any congressional candidate from taking individuals' contributions and mandate that US Treasury funds be made available to House candidates from the "two major parties."

Continue reading "House Resolution 4694" »

February 17, 2006

Both congressional ethics committees are irresponsible

The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee has responded to a November 22, 2005 letter from government ethics advocate Democracy 21 that requested the committee to investigate possible wrongdoings by congress persons in relation to indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Their response is they will not do so, as they deem it to be in procedural conflict with same case investigations by the U.S. Justice Department. The U.S. House Ethics Committee has not even responded to the letter. This ineptness by both of the committees concerns "the Abramoff affair, which could turn out to be the biggest congressional scandal of modern times," stated Fred Wertheimer, President of Democracy 21.

Continue reading "Both congressional ethics committees are irresponsible" »

February 16, 2006

Military spending behind present times

Vast sums of money are scheduled to be spent on maintaining America's entire giant arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons. Vaster sums will go to the development of new weapons systems like the F-22 Raptor, the DD(X) Destroyer, and the Virginia-class of submarines. Our present capabilities for post-conflict reconstruction and peacekeeping missions remain extremely limited, however.

Continue reading "Military spending behind present times" »

February 14, 2006

No Slump, Just tons of details!

Changing the course of a nation's politics and government from corruption to responsibility does not occur in weeks, or months.

For many weeks now, there have been no announcements about VOID milestones being reached. This does not mean no one is doing anything. It just means we are working our way through the details and minutae of reaching those milestones. Establishing a non-profit corporation would be a relative snap if many thousands of Americans sent $100 donations allowing us to hire attorneys to do this work for us. That hasn't happened, yet. So, we on the Board are working through the IRS reg's and details of being able to clear their 501(c)3 hurdles on our own.

It takes time for lay persons to become versed in the applicable laws and procedures, but, we are doing just that and more, like keeping fresh content on this site, responding to supporter emails, and of course hammering the Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy mission and logic on many other internet sites. Keeping VOID's message in the public eye is job #1. And we are working other things in to our busy schedules as time permits.

So don't be discouraged by the lack of bombastic announcements of great achievements at this time. Success is a plodding, and step by step time and energy tapping process, and we are paving that road to success diligently, and persistently, and responsibly. Major hurdles are being overcome, and once they are past, the pace of progress and productivity will pick up significantly.

If you haven't become an official VOID member yet, please do so. Your membership dues will aid us tremendously, and your show of support will be a tremendous help in keeping our spirits and motivation high and mission moving forward. Afterall, we are talking about our nation's and children's future, here! That is certainly worth the price of VOID membership.

February 13, 2006

Many challengers can operate an ethical campaign

Since the lobbyist Abramoff's troubles appear so far, to mostly touch Republicans, Democrats this year could gain an electoral advantage and eventually boost their share of seats in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Thus, as big money contributions have been flowing from the Washington lobbyist industry to "winners", Democratic challengers in this year's elections will be more susceptible to lobbyist campaign contributors.

Continue reading "Many challengers can operate an ethical campaign" »

Guest Workers, Illegals and Your Tax Dollars

The original "guest worker" was someone who came here with permission for a specified amount of time, did his job, then went home again. Simple.

Other countries employ similar practices and it works nicely. Some countries even extend the time the workers can stay by renewing their work visas from year to year. However, unlike our system, foreign nations charge the employer with the responsibility for those people--their health care, their housing, etc. Unlike our system, foreign nations keep track of where the guest workers are at all times.

Continue reading "Guest Workers, Illegals and Your Tax Dollars" »

Interesting data site on 2006 election.

The Green Papers, a web site dedicated to news and data as it unfolds regarding the 2006 elections has this to report:

[On] Tuesday 7 November 2006 ... 1/3 of the United States Senate and the entire House of Representatives of the 110th Congress will be chosen.

Continue reading "Interesting data site on 2006 election." »

February 11, 2006

American Corruption

The President's State of the Union speech was quaint. But, let's get down to some real facts about where we are. America is corrupted! If the President were to have spoken the truth about the state of our nation, his speech would not have needed to be any longer than those 3 words.

Corruption. The word corrupt means to alter a normal healthy state to one of being putrid, unsound, or debased. Corrupt is probably the most apt description of our government in these times. Take the Abramoff scandal which, certainly paints a picture of wide spread bribery of politicians and their aides in exchange for legislation which harms the nation, but favors the hands that feed the reelection coffers of incumbent political parties and politicians.

Continue reading "American Corruption" »

February 10, 2006

From: A Patriot

Good for you for organizing this!

I changed my party registration from Republican to Independent in 2002.

Both parties are a disgrace, and nothing's going to change. Anyone who thinks so is dreaming.

I'm voting for every Independent, Libertarian, etc. on the ballot from now on. It's time for revolution.

Best,

From: Glenn Parish

I totally support voting out all incumbents, in fact I thought of it before I discovered VOID tonight. I would like to make one constructive suggestion: please don't advocate voting for a third party candidate if one is available. By doing this you reduce your chances of defeating the incumbent by wasting a vote that could have gone to the most likely successful challenger.

Continue reading "From: Glenn Parish" »

February 9, 2006

Incumbents profiting from inept Congressional Ethics Committees

According to the Congressional Ethics Coalition, an ideologically diverse group of leading government reform organizations, the scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff is one of the biggest issues facing the 109th Congress. Yet both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate ethics committees say they have no plans to investigate!

Continue reading "Incumbents profiting from inept Congressional Ethics Committees" »

February 7, 2006

Help fight corruption in Washington

A friend at breakfast recently shared a story of corruption with me, one that I believe happens to every newcomer in Congress. U.S. Representative Larry Pressler, Republican of South Dakota, had not yet moved into his congressional office in his first year of public office in 1975.

Continue reading "Help fight corruption in Washington" »

February 4, 2006

Supporter Inquiry

I received an inquiry from a VOID supporter asking why VOID has no endorsement on its web site for term limits. Following was my reply:

The reason is very simple. VOID does not advocate for or against term limits. VOID does not advocate for or against the war in Iraq, for or against abortion or a million other issues that divide Americans. VOID does not advocate for any issue except using anti-incumbent power of the voters to force greater responsibility, accountability, and transparency by government toward the people who elect it. Greater responsibility, accountability, and transparency is something virtually all Americans would like to see. It is a unifying cause. Term limits is a dividing issue. VOID's sole mission is to inform the electorate that the anti-incumbent vote is the only way such a change can occur peacefully.

Once, far greater accountability and responsibility to the electorate is achieved, then the people can hold a referendum on whether term limits should be passed. But, as long as we have the corrupt incumbents now in office insuring government serves their reelection instead of the people, term limits cannot be achieved. It cannot be achieved because it is not in the self-interest of elected politicians in debt to special interests to allow it to come to pass.

I reminded our staff just yesterday of what our narrowly defined mission is, so that we can stay on course. The minute VOID begins advocating issues not found in our mission statement, will be the minute VOID loses its capacity to unite voters from all parties, and previously non-voters, alike. VOID is a non-partisan, all partisan organization. Term limits would favor the Democrats and our endorsement of term limits would kill the anti-incumbent movement's universal appeal to voters across party lines. The Democratic and Republican Parties thrive on dividing Americans. VOID thrives on the hope of uniting Americans toward greater democracy, not less.

February 3, 2006

Corrupt politicians out: Public servants in

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The main game for our representatives in Washington, and in states, too, is to remain in office. This corrupts the legislative and executive decision making process.

Continue reading "Corrupt politicians out: Public servants in" »