Nothing new in the concept of throwing irresponsible incumbents out of office. Failed before, why would VOID's attempt work today? Below are the mechanics of how and why VOID can reshape American politics.
First, there is already an anti-incumbent mood among eligible voters, and this accounts for why a huge number of the 55% of eligible voters who DO NOT VOTE, don't in non-presidential year elections. Voter participation has been dropping for decades with a few blip exceptions. At least half of the American public has lost faith in voting for Democrats and Republicans, incumbents or challengers, because things in government just don't get better. In fact, in many ways, our government just continues to worsen. 9/11 never should have happened. Our educational system never should have dropped from being the best in the world. Our poverty rate never should have increased since the 1970's, but, it has. And our national debt should never have reached 8 Trillion dollars threatening the taxed wages of our children's work lives.
So, the first reason VOID can work today, is because half the eligible voters in this country, if given renewed hope that showing up at the polls will make a difference, would completely revolutionize American electoral politics. If even 20% of them who didn't vote before, showed up to vote against irresponsible incumbents, it would throw a chill and fear into incumbents as has not been seen in modern political history. The statistician's models would be rendered useless, incumbents strategies for reelection would prove erroneous, and the fear of the voters would be struck in the hearts and minds of incumbent politicians who remained in office.
A second reason VOID can work, is because of the math of voting. A vote by a person who used to lean toward Democrats or Republicans, who shows up and votes for the challenger regardless of party, is not only an anti-incumbent vote, but, a cancelling vote: - a vote which cancels an incumbent supporter. So, anti-incumbent voting means incumbents have to generate two additional votes for every anti-incumbent vote. This means if 10% of voters who didn't vote before, vote against politicians seeking reelection, is the same as 10% of the incumbent's voters not showing up at the polls at all to vote for them. Small numbers of anti-incumbent votes by previously non-voters can render statisticians predictability models useless, and upset otherwise predictable incumbent wins.
Third, there is a teeter totter effect. Imagine a teeter totter with a N.Y. Democrat Incumbent Senator on the right side of the teeter totter. Now envision in 2006, a Republican challenger on the left side of the teeter totter. Democrats outnumber Republicans in that state, (let's say), by 50,000 votes. The pollsters predict an easy victory for the Democratic incumbent.
But, let's say, 25,000 Democrat voters don't show up to vote because they are busy and everyone knows the Democrat will win anyway. Then, let's say 12,500 previously non-voting Democrat leaning VOID voters show up and vote, FOR THE REPUBLICAN. Add to that 13,000 previously non-voting Republican leaning voters who show up to vote because VOID voting makes sense and gives their challenger a real chance. Election is held, and the Republican challenger wins by 500 votes in a race statisticians and pundits said couldn't be lost by the incumbent. Why did the teeter totter reverse its position? VOID voters, that's why. Suddenly, politicians begin to pay attention to VOID voters and ask what they want for their vote. VOID voters reply back, problems solved, that's what we want for our vote. Do it or lose it.
Finally, Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy can have another effect. It can prepare more voters to vote for the candidates who will solve problems and ignore political parties. This will be a very good thing. Partisan wars in Congress are a huge waste of the American people's time and tax dollars. When voters start voting results instead of rhetoric, political parties will be weakened some, and that, in today's climate, has to be a benefit for American government. The more voters vote for problems solved and ignore empty party promises and platitudes, the more responsive our government will become to all voters regardless of political party affiliation.
(Following is related to Beltway Traffic Jam, for continuing the discussion).
November 9, 2005 11:58 PM
Yes, David, great post! VOID will work for the reasons you listed! And there are other reasons, too.
9/11 and Katrina are eye-opening catastrophic events that will help motivate people. The Land of the Free is a nation that's not used to insecurity. We, as Americans, have a history of not tolerating it. We will rise up to secure this nation for ourselves and our posterity! That's what America does, that's what we've always done.
We just need the right vehicle to accomplish this, and that's where VOID comes in. VOID will help inform and direct the disgruntled people in this nation in a peaceful, productive manner that will ensure the security of America is re-gained and maintained.
If incumbents won't do it, and they haven't, then we need to elect those individuals that will!
November 10, 2005 11:32 AM
Yes, There is no doubt in my mind at all that it can work.
Some say it's impossible.
Some said man would never fly.
Some said we'd never travel to the moon (some still don't think we did).
Some said we'd never do many things.
While history often repeats itself, new things are always occurring that make history.
And, if The People choose to do this one simple, easy, peaceful, responsible thing, they will make history, and they will simply be doing the one thing they should have been doing all along.
Vote responsibly to hold government responsible and accountable too.
What could be more simple?
OK, yes I know.
The naysayers try to shoot it full of holes.
And most of their arguments are weak.
The best argument some use is that they say The People are too complacent, apathetic, or entrenched in petty partisan warfare.
It's true. That is a problem.
But, that doesn't mean we can never overcome it.
The reality is that people will make the choice eventually. But, will it been soon enough. Or will we have to learn the hard way (again)?
It's a choice The People have the right to make (while we still have the right to vote).
The People can do it if they want to.
There are numerous, logical, convincing reasons why it can work. Many can see the logic and simplicity. Many can also see why it would be the responsible thing to do.
But, in the end, The People must choose.
The key is education.
Many just have not yet heard, read, or considered the undeniable simplicity and logic. The good part, is it's a very simple idea, that's easy to communicate and understand. It's not some vast, partisan, or complicated cult movement. It's not a new idea, but it's never before been introduced corretcly.
This time, the objective is pure, simple, and just.
It only asks voters to be responsible to make government responsible too.
This may be the most simple, constructive way to peacefully balance power between government and The People (not simply shift it, or strip government of all authority to get anything done).
Ultimately, the truth is, reform will happen some day regardless. It's just whether people want to do it the hard, painful way (again), or do it the smart, peaceful, responsible way.
November 10, 2005 2:54 PM
We're in for a fight. The incumbents ARENOT going to take this without one.
All I can say is BRING IT ON.
VOID can work, VOID will work if the voters get the message that business as usuall isn't working.
November 15, 2005 10:54 PM
I've been promoting the same idea on forums for the last 6 months. One thing that really shocked me is when I found that the re-election rate for the U.S. House was 98% for the years 2000, 2002, and 2004.
Clearly, they will never care about what we think, if we re-elect them no matter what they do.
I helped to promote VOIDnow over here:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-12575.html
I created a website, dedicated to unseating the globalists in Congress.
www.GlobalismScorecard.org
One thing that's also good about this idea is that it's non-ideological as well as non-partisan. For various reasons, people are sometimes reluctant to promote their politics. But the idea of "throwing the bumbs out" is something that I think a lot of people would feel comfortable promoting, without fearing what people they know might think or worrying about offending anyone.
November 16, 2005 12:13 AM
JS, thank you very much for that great write up on VOID. And thank you for visiting our site. If you haven't yet, please sign our GuestBook through the link on the front page.
Our staff are currently involved in visiting other sites to engage bloggers and inform them that VOID exists and why it is so important that it succeed with the help of volunteers and donations to spread the word wider and wider.
If you are inclined, keep us in mind as you blog around the web and give us a plug when you can. Visibility is our greatest hurdle at the moment and we very much appreciate all who help us jump that hurdle.
November 16, 2005 9:58 AM
JS,
Thank you !
Yes, you make a very good point. Incumbents are extremely hard to beat, because their big money donors like what they bought-and-paid for, which makes the incumbents very beholding to their big money donors (not The People), and very expensive to beat.
And 90% of elections are won by the candidate with the most money, giving rise to an elitist and arrogant government.
When 5% of the wealthiest have 59% of all wealth in the nation, the middle-to-lower-class-income groups do not have an equal voice in government. Government should not be FOR SALE.
The idea of VOID is merely a simple thing the people forgot about, a simple thing we should have been doing all along, periodically when necessary, to peacefully maintain a fair balance of power between government and The People.
November 16, 2005 12:10 PM
The 40% that DOES vote is the important number here. And they are the monied class that profits from the tax cuts and is able to take advantage of tax loopholes. Just look at the % of taxes that support the government since WWII; the taxation burden has consistantly been FROM business TO individual and now you see the middle class, what there is left of it, bearing the majority of the tax burden. Those pie charts showing % are quite an eye opener. Another thing: my neighboring town, Superior, WI is getting new tax bills, and the assessor actually went on radio to state that none of the additional money would to to the city--something about the increase in value in homes has not applied to businesses so the homew would bear more of the taxation burden----something like that.
November 17, 2005 10:14 PM
katesisco, yep, it is a rigged game which proves our so called "representatives" are not representing the majority interests of Americans. That is why VOID is so vital, and why it is so necessary that folks like yourself do what you can in the way of donations, volunteering 1-2 hours a week to VOID, or on your own spreading the word.
If the word does not reach the disaffected voters, little or nothing will change. As you aptly pointed out, the 40+ % that do vote, are calling the shots and we simply must change that percentage.
November 19, 2005 9:20 AM
Let's review some of the voting percentages :
Nationwide in a Presidential election about 50% of the age eligible voters actually vote.
that leaves 50% of the age eligble voters who do not go to the polls, do not send in an absentee vote and consequently do not vote at all. That's about 100 million folks.
Nationwide in a Congressional election which happens with greater frequency than a Presidential election only 40% of the age eligible voters cast ballots.
When you analyze the voting statistics by age and sex you discover that the age group with the least voter turnout is the 18 to 24 year old age eligible voters do not vote.
November 19, 2005 3:41 PM
This is one 21 year-old that's going to vote.
And I'm voting anti-incumbent.
November 21, 2005 10:45 AM
Yeah, Sharin. Glad to have your voice join the chorus.
November 21, 2005 11:15 AM
TAHT'S MY BABY GIRL!!!!!!!
Glad to have you on board Sharlaine.