VOID and Term Limits

VOID doesn't take a stand on term limits for one very elementary reason. The incumbents in congress would have to pass the term limits legislation, and they, as a majority, do not wish to do that. That would be cutting their own political and self interested throats.

Therefore, the only path to term limits is through sheer brute anti-incumbent voter force. If voters want term limits, they must first vote out the incumbents who refuse to pass term limits.

Therefore, VOID doesn't try to put the cart before the horse. First must come the growth of the anti-incumbent grass roots movement: the VOID movement. When that movement is large enough to remove 35, 40, or 50% of incumbents in a single election, then, and only then, will the new Congress persons and the remaining incumbents realize they are next to get booted if they don't vote for the reforms the anti-incumbent voters are demanding. ...

And if voters who want:

• serious containment of lobbyist money influence
• those who want campaign finance reform with teeth
• those who want a balanced budget amendment
• those who want an Article V convention convened per the states' demand
• those who want a one bill, one appropriation, end to earmarks and pork barrel spending

if the majority of all these join you and I and others in voting out incumbents until their demands become law, then it will happen; up to half of all incumbents will get the boot in a single election and scare the other half into representing the demands of the anti-incumbent voters in order to not get the boot themselves in their next reelection bid.

But, it is up to folks like you and I to explain this logic and strategy to other voters who hold a very low opinion and approval rating of Congress. We must explain to them that even if they like their own representative, their representative is ineffective in bringing about the changes voters want. And the only way those changes can be brought about is by a large and growing anti-incumbent grass roots voter base in nearly every state in the union.

VOID does not take public policy positions on issues. We have one single focused purpose, to help voters understand that voting to reelect their incumbents is not the path to the reforms and change they seek. Reforms and change demanded by the people can only come about on the heels of an anti-incumbent groundswell that threatens the tenure of incumbents, and cuts the umbilical between incumbents and lobbyists and wealthy campaign donors, individual and corporate. The voters have something far more powerful than money to effect change in our government, if they will only accept and use that power of the anti-incumbent vote, as you have vowed to do.

Term limitation is a controversial issue like abortion or immigration. VOID is not a political party, and therefore takes no position on public policy issues. If VOID were to take a position on such public policy issues, it would lose potential supporters of the anti-incumbent mission and strategy toward reforms. It is essential that VOID remain focused on its objective, mission, and strategy, which is to assist voters in exercising the true power of their vote during times of high disapproval of government direction and conduct. The term limits issue divides voters. It would therefore diminish the strength of the VOID membership and support if VOID took an official position on it, one way or the other.

The most powerful role VOID can take regarding any controversial issue, like term limits, is to continue to inform voters who are not satisfied with the results of Congress, that their vote, combined with the power of other voters voting for challengers, is the only path to removing the incumbents who stand in the way of the reforms the voters want to see take place.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your questions. We appreciate every opportunity to explain the VOID concept, mission, and strategy to American voters.

Sincerely,
--David Remer
Vote Out Incumbents Democracy

By David R. Remer
Published: July 6, 2009 6:06 PM
0 Votes