Vote Out Incumbents Democracy

Bayh & Nuclear Bombshells

2010-02-16T19:36:17Z

Two bombshell news stories occurred back to back this morning. Sen. Evan Bayh announces he will not run for reelection, and Pres. Obama announces $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees for America's first new nuclear power plant in nearly 3 decades. The import and aftermath of these two news announcements strike at the heart of what is broken in American politics, demanding repair, or inviting failure.

]]> Bayh

Sen. Evan Bayh's announcement opens the door to a possible Republican majority in the U.S. Senate in Nov. 2010. That's not the bombshell, though many a liberal might think so. The bombshell is Sen. Bayh's stated reason:

There is too much partisanship and not enough progress -- too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving... Even at a time of enormous challenge, the people's business is not being done.

These words could not be more important for the American people, nor more true. After just two terms, this Senator believes his efforts are no longer worth the time and energy it takes to get so little accomplished in addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Partisans in America will condemn or praise Bayh's announcement, as either cowardly or overdue, depending on whether the partisan is a Democrat or Republican. But, from a non-partisan point of view, his announcement marks yet another milestone on the road to ruin for America and Americans.

Sen. Bayh of Indiana, was a moderate Democrat, fiscally conservative on deficit and debt issues, and more liberal on social issues of equal protection under law and preserving individual choice from overbearing government intervention. Sen. Bayh was one of the Democrats capable and willing to work with, and compromise with, Republicans across the the Congressional aisle. But every attempt to reach out to them to solve the nation's challenges were rebuffed when it came time to vote. If you know the ship is sinking, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, it is prudent to jump and swim toward terra firma.

I, however, can find no blame for Sen. Bayh's decision. If he were my Senator, I would have voted for his challenger, instead. Not because I don't respect his efforts in the Senate, but, because his efforts failed to produce solutions to the problems taking my nation down the path to ruin. Democrats will argue his failure to produce results was the fault of the obstructionist Republicans who refuse to vote for anything Democrats propose, except for more war. Some Republicans would argue that their agenda is not becoming policy and therefore, there is no justifiable reason to vote for Democrat's objectives.

Sen. Bayh, in the middle of these intractable lines drawn in the sand, is exiting this exercise in futility, and I cannot blame him. In a Hollywood movie, Sen. Bayh's script may call for his refusal to give up, to stay and fight the futility, and become an unsung martyr in the wake of the anti-incumbent movement growing amongst the voters across the nation. But, this is no movie. And in real life, at this time in American history, people working sensibly to do the right thing are lost and forgotten amidst the spectacle of sacrificial gladiators in the political arena battling for appeal to a public and media that values blood over diplomacy, vitriol over consensus, and winners and losers over solutions.

Just as the gladiator's of Rome fought to appease the crowds as Rome fractured and faded from history, America's political gladiators fight to the death of America through neglect of what is really important to save our future: solutions; forged out of rational and reasonable debate which puts nation first and foremost.

Obama

Pres. Obama said this morning that safe nuclear power plants are a necessary investment in America's future and will further America's objective toward energy independence. Critics on the Left will argue there is no such thing as safe nuclear power plants until a permanent, safe, and cost effective solution to getting rid of nuclear waste is found. They will argue Pres. Obama is putting the cart before the horse in announcing construction before such a solution to waste is found.

"To meet our growing energy needs and prevent the worst consequences of climate change, we'll need to increase our supply the nuclear power. It's that simple.", Pres. Obama said. Politically however, it will be anything but simple, and very likely prove to be impossible. New nuclear generated electric power will be enormously expensive up front, and as Pres. Obama acknowledged,

Energy leaders and experts recognize that as long as producing carbon pollution carries no cost, traditional plants that use fossil fuels will be more cost effective than plants that use nuclear fuel. That's why we need comprehensive energy and climate legislation...

And therein lies the potential impossibility of moving forward toward a national energy policy that achieves energy independence. Republicans have been calling for nuclear power for years. But, they will fight artificially increased costs of fossil fuels through higher taxation. Republicans officially do not recognize America's contribution to global climate change, and will therefore, don gladiator garb and weapons to defeat Pres. Obama's plan for a comprehensive approach to energy independence, just as they opposed Democrat's comprehensive approach to health care reform.

Before reforming health care, energy, and wasteful government spending; before reforming tax codes, education quality - availability, and runaway deficits due to entitlements, America must reform its broken political system, which blocks all these other reforms from becoming reality. Asking a Democrat or Republican politician to reform the political system is like asking a heart attack victim to perform bypass surgery on himself, which means no anesthesia. It will not happen.

Two things must happen before the needed political reform can take place. The first is, Americans must collectively look into the Abyss that lies ahead, and agree with each other that they do not wish to jump headlong into it. And second, the majority of American voters must give up their role as gladiatorial spectators of the carnage in the political arena, and vote: not for Democrats or Republicans, not for liberal or conservative. No, the majority of American voters must vote for results, which are now absent from our Congress.

How does one vote for results, when there are none forthcoming, one might logically ask? The answer is quite simple. Voting for a sitting politician who has been ineffective in producing results to date, is certainly not the answer. However, voting for a challenger to an incumbent in Congress seeking reelection, is a vote which megaphones a simple message to the new politician who wins election. That message is: Produce results or your election will be a one time event, and you will be the incumbent getting the boot when it is your turn to seek reelection.

Politicians rather like getting reelected. Deprive them of reelection; even threaten their potential for reelection, and they will jump through hoops to meet the voter's demand for results. As voters divided, we are puppets to to the politicians. United as voters, they become our puppets.

Voting for results instead of Party label, will force our Congress to find and enact the solutions which, will prevent our hurtling into the Abyss. This is the mission, logic, and message of the non-partisan political action committee known as Vote Out Incumbents Democracy. We can shove each other into the Abyss, or join with the voters of V.O.I.D. to force the political reform that must come before any other reforms can.

Self-Interest should interest you!

2010-02-15T08:49:17Z

There is selfishness which acts without regard for others. Then, there is 'enlightened self-interest', which weighs the benefit to others as well as oneself and acts accordingly, in order avoid the negative consequences and costs of acting selfishly, and reap the benefits of being liked by others for considering them in the first place.

]]> Alexis DeTocqueville, uses the wording, "enlightened self-interest" in his work Democracy In America, (1835). He applies some of the lengthy and detailed psychology and sociology of human relations as determined by sentiment, morality, ethics, and awareness, set down in The Theory of Moral Sentiments, by Adam Smith (1759).

Adam Smith, a genius in our founding father's time, discussed how the selfish person would receive little or no favor from those around them, limiting the benefits of decision making to those the selfish person alone can generate for them self. A generous person, on the other hand, who takes care to note the potential consequences of their own decisions upon others, and decides in ways to insure their choices not only benefit them self, but, at the very least do no harm to others, will be a well liked and respected person reaping additional benefits from their decisions, for being so regarded by others. It seems clear, DeTocqueville's coinage of the term "enlightened self-interest' derived from a reading of Adam Smith's earlier work, while on his travels throughout America in the 1800's.

Enlightened self-interest undertaken by the voting public, however, is a curse to politicians seeking election, especially those seeking RE-election. Enlightened self interest directs people to vote for a challenger instead of the incumbent seeking reelection if the voter does not approve of what their government has been doing. The voter's representative is responsible, in part, for the government results which the voter disapproves of.

Consequently, you won't hear politicians seeking reelection talk about 'enlightened self-interest' to potential voters, and educating them to its virtues and benefits. They will talk incessantly about what they will do if reelected. Which begs the question, why didn't they do it prior to seeking reelection?

The voters want pretty much the same thing from their government, peace, prosperity, and freedom to direct their own lives as they choose without interfering with anyone else's freedom. That hasn't changed in 230 years. Yet, politicians wanting to be reelected act as if they just discovered that the people are not enjoying these benefits of government, and they will do better at providing these things if only they are reelected. Is it safe to say far too many politicians expect the voters to be dumb enough to buy into this reelection campaign rhetoric and false promises?

There is no substitute for democratic elections for freedom loving people. And there is no substitute in a democracy for voting to reelect, or not, based on one's approval of government results, since the last election. If one approves of one's government's results since the last election, reelecting a politician makes excellent sense. If one cannot approve, reelecting one's politician really doesn't make much sense, after all.

When a majority of Americans vote for results instead of political party and promises which are never kept, America's government will improve dramatically and many more voters will have justification to vote for an incumbent seeking reelection. Until then, American voters have the government they asked for, like it or not, divided and ineffective.

Republicans and Democrats Killing America's Future.

2010-02-08T19:58:32Z

The Democrats in the Congress are displaying incompetence and lack of experience in Congressional leadership, and it is costing this nation its future. Republicans are blocking efforts to rescue our future. The majority of voting Americans in 2008, no doubt hoped that with the election of Obama and a Democratic Congress, our nation's problems would be addressed and solved. The disappointment is everywhere in today's political news coverage.

]]> By late Summer of last year, two facts were evident to Democrats in Congress. First, that they didn't have 60 votes in the Senate to stop filibusters, (only 58 seats with two Independents with an independent agenda). It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster in the Senate, (an action to prevent legislation from coming to a vote). And second, it was evident that Republicans were going to block Democratic legislation which would bolster public confidence in electing Democrats. In other words, any legislation that was going to be favored by the majority of the public as solving problems, was going to be stopped by each and every Republican Congress person.

So, why did Democrats fail to revise the rules of the Senate, such that the vote to stop a filibuster (cloture vote), would only require 55 or 51 votes? Democratic leaders may now respond by saying that would have been too tough to do politically and open the door for public criticism of changing the rules in their favor. Failure to make the attempt however, has now cost the Democrats their momentum, and the consensus to get any thing done for the American people.

This situation of having the wind pulled entirely out of Democrat's sails, is a result of incompetent leadership by House majority leader Nancy Pelosi, and Senate majority leader Harry Reid. They might respond today saying they sought bi-partisan solutions which would not require changing the filibuster rule. But, given the evidence of Congressional Republican's intent to blockade all legislation that didn't reflect how they would craft it if they were the majority, it would appear such a reply by Pelosi and Reid would be little more than damage control.

With the election of Sen. Scott Brown (R) filling Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat, the potential of changing the Senate rule is no longer a realistic option, since, even if Democrats got the votes of all Democrats and Independents, Sanders and Lieberman, they would be one vote short with Republicans 41 voting block in the Senate. So, what Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and the entire Democratic Party are saddled with now, is a 'Do Nothing' Congress. And it is a label that will erode their election results in November, fomenting even more rapid growth in the anti-incumbent sentiment amongst voters.

Incompetence and overreach were also evident in the enormously costly health care reform bill. Democrats wanted, no doubt, to put politics aside, and move health care reform through on a bi-partisan basis, which is why they accommodated Republican amendments and ideas in Committee's helping to craft the legislation. It was however, politically naive of the Democratic leadership to believe Republicans, any of them, would allow Democrats to take ownership of the most comprehensive health care bill to be proposed since Medicare in the 1960's.

They failed also to recognize the devastating confluence of public ignorance about our enormously complex and decentralized health care system, and the advantage the insurance industry would take of that public ignorance in fighting any such health care reform. This kind of political inexperience and incompetence by Democratic leadership was inexcusable. The way forward for Democrats was to put together a vastly smaller reform addressing only insurance industry abuses which the public could easily grasp and support, and Republicans would have had to be embarrassed to oppose. Pass it, gain the momentum and public trust, and then a year later, put together another reform package that went further providing insurance of all Americans currently uninsured, or the measures to drive down costs through competition.

This tactic and strategy would have brought out the big guns of the insurance industry and many Republicans in opposition over an initial reform that the public would have demanded as common sense. And thus, the ammunition of the industry and Republicans would have been spent, and their motives highlighted for all to see before the next reform came around, defusing opposition to it in the public's mind. Democrats needed a Lyndon Johnson in the Congress, savvy, politically shrewd, and experienced. Instead, they got Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, with years of experience in the Congress but, none as majority leaders and shepherds of tough complex legislative initiatives.

What the American public is left with now is gird lock in Congress, enormous and growing frustration and distrust in politicians in both parties, and the rise of the Tea Party garnering a great deal of media play for their very small numbers and conservative agenda, and increasing those numbers in support of targeting key 2010 election races. The end result is a divided nation along conservative and liberal lines with many factions in each camp, an even more divided Congress, and a President elected to change things for the better who hasn't the Congress to get that change underway.

The one ray of hope in this scenario is the rise of the anti-incumbent voters, both liberal and conservative, registering their dismay, frustration, and disappointment in the only way that will have an impact on those in Congress. They are voting for a challenger instead of the incumbent representative or party. The power of the vote, as our Founding Fathers understood, was to remove people from power as much as to elect them. The founders had no means to remove King George from the throne of England and rule over the colonies, except by Revolution and war. The vote was intended to provide a means for removing abusers of power from office, without having to suffer the inhumanity of war, by electing challengers for those offices, instead.

Americans in growing numbers are rediscovering this all important power and design of their vote. No longer suffering the illusion that blaming other representatives will change anything, they are accepting the reality that the only representative they can target for the lack of change they seek in government, is their own representative. The incumbent's bucket argument that it is the fault of other Congress persons that nothing is getting done for the people has a hole in it, and it has been getting bigger with each passing election since 2006. More and more voters are waking to the fact that if Congress is not working for them and the nation, their own representative has, at the very least, been ineffective in persuading the others, and therefore, their own representative is of no use to them.

The changes in our political system needed to correct our future condition must come about quickly, however. The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) according to a number of reports last year, estimated that Soc. Security revenues may exceed outlays in 2010. I just checked the CBO's estimates for 2010 updated last month, and their revised estimate indicates Soc. Sec. will not run a deficit this year. However, even as the economy grows and revenues increase, outlays for entitlements will increase faster than revenues, if Congress does not act. That fact is inescapable. The situation with Medicare and Medicaid is far more dire, threatening dozens of trillions of dollars in deficits added to the national debt in decades to come if reforms are not undertaken quickly. Of course, our government will bankrupt long before those deficits in Medicare and Medicaid are realized. And a bankrupt American government will mean poverty and suffering on a scale today, enormously more encompassing than that of the The Great Depression of the 1930's.

The Democratic and Republican Party elected officials continue to demonstrate incompetence in managing our nation's challenges. It is not that they are incapable of the job at hand. It is the simple matter that their partisan rivalries for competitive advantage hold a higher priority for them, than taking care of the nation's business.

It is therefore, up to the voters to deny them office, every election, until they demonstrate that they have altered their priorities and put the American people and their future ahead of politics and partisanship, at least until our nation's future is rescued. Also, they must be forced to elect party leaders who recognize the writing on the wall. It is up to the voters.

The politicians will only serve themselves unless we force them to serve our nation instead. And we do that by demonstrating that they wont' get reelected if they DON'T solve our nation's challenges.

2010: An Anti-Incumbent Election Year

2010-02-02T19:00:33Z

Feb.2, 2010

I watch, listen to, and read the political news each and every day, and I am enormously impressed that the main stream media political analysts are using the word "anti-incumbent" in their discussions and projections of this year's elections. More and more our Vote Out Incumbents window/bumper stickers are showing up on cars on America's highways and streets thanks to our supporters and members helping fund their production and distribution.

]]> Democrats are reportedly very apprehensive about this anti-incumbent wave of voter sentiment and action at the polls. And Republicans are acutely aware of their party's approval numbers in the 20% range. The increased anxiety and confusion over this anti-incumbent voter strategy by our politicians in Congress is precisely the first sign VOID has long worked to see as evidence that the voters in America are increasingly holding their representatives responsible for how our government is run and the results they produce.

Most of our politicians in Congress still haven't a clue what to do about all this. But, that is to be expected for awhile. First, comes the anxiety and apprehension over their own and their party's ability to get reelected. Then comes research to find out why Americans are not reelecting them. And then, VOID's goal of motivating our politicians to put the American people and our nation's first on their priority list when crafting legislation and voting on it, will finally come to pass.

But, for the moment, we VOID supporters can permit ourselves a small celebration of the fact that the main stream media, the political pundits and analysts, and increasing numbers of our Congress persons are finally acknowledging that their is a growing anti-incumbent movement taking place and our politicians are going to find it much more difficult to get reelected if Congress continues as it has, making party differences an excuse for not taking care of the American people's interests and solving our nation's challenges.

OK. Celebration time is over. [ Grin! ] Time to get back to the work of spreading the word, increasing our donations to pay for more public message time, and recruiting more voters to the Vote Out Incumbent strategy toward improving our government's actions and nation's future.

Our web site is about to get a change to a site Directory page as the entrance page. Our web site is becoming rich with history and content. Navigation is becoming a bit tedious as reported by some of our supporters. An entry directory page will allow visitors to come to our site, and select what content they seeking, with one click, instead of having to hunt for links in various locations around the web site.

I am working on making myself available for speaking engagements to various groups who have an interest in learning more about the VOID organization and its mission and rationale for our anti-incumbent voter campaign. If you belong to an organized group of 100 or more persons and think your group might be interested in a 30 minute presentation about VOID with a Q&A afterward, please contact me, at any of our Email Us links on the web site or by email at President [at] Voidnow.Org

Also, if you call in to radio or TV shows, ask them why they haven't had a spokesperson for Vote Out Incumbents Democracy on their show to speak about this growing anti-incumbent voter sentiment and action at the polls. The more exposure we get, the greater the numbers of anti-incumbent voters there will be.

Let's all find ways to do our part. Spend just 10 minutes a week asking yourself what you can do to promote the VOID organization, its message, or to share the reasoning behind the VOID movement. I find myself very comfortable meeting people and asking them if they have heard about this Vote Out Incumbents Democracy movement, yet. It is a nearly guaranteed conversation starter.

The Board of Directors is trying to work out a schedule for our next meeting, and to all of you who have recently made contributions for window/bumper stickers, or signed up for membership, you are the greatest and thanks.

If you haven't renewed your membership in the last year or so, we will be sending you mail to invite you to do so. I assure you, you will not receive more than two such requests before being dropped from our mailing list. We have no intention of annoying our former members with repeated requests for membership renewal. We appreciate enormously your past membership and support.

Happy New Election Year

2010-01-08T16:19:57Z

It's a brand new ELECTION Year! Y E A H!!!!

Another opportunity to get our friends and family to grasp the Vote Out Incumbents strategy for forcing politicians into putting the American people's demand for responsible, transparent, and accountable government ahead of their party's, their wealthy campaign donor's, and their myriad special interest lobbyist's demands. We anti-incumbent voters don't demand that parties, campaign donations, or lobbyists be done away with. We only demand that their interests take a back seat to the public's and the nation's interests.

]]> This is common sense. This will work. With enough anti-incumbent voters, both the parties and candidates observing the incumbent reelection rate drop from the 90 plus percent range to the 50% or 60% range will recognize their political career has a toss of coin's chance of surviving if they don't change the way they and their fellow Congresspersons legislate and govern this nation.

We all know this country is headed for a train wreck of epic proportions. The Right knows it. The Left knows it. The problem is they think you and I are dumb enough to buy their malarkey that it is the other politician's or party's fault. Both parties have demonstrated, as have their representatives with few exceptions, that party power is their first and foremost objective in governance. We can use that to force them toward more responsible governance by booting them out of office in growing numbers until we, the American voters, see a dramatic improvement in the way Congress governs and handles our money, and our children's tax debt and future in America.

It is our Country! All of ours. We have a new election year to take it back for us all, by voting out our own incumbents. If we are Republican, we can vote for the challenger in the Republican Primary or Caucus election. If we are Democrats, we can the do the same in the Primary and Caucus. If we are Independents, we can vote for anyone but our incumbent, choosing the best of challengers.

Let's make 2010's election a repeat of the anti-incumbent results of the off-year elections in 2009, in which a very large percentage of incumbents lost their races across the country. With the mid-term elections in November, we can widen this anti-incumbent movement by explaining the logic and common sense of it to everyone who will listen, and doing everything we can to insure they get out and vote.

It won't happen if you and I don't make the effort. It can and will happen in one or another election year, if we do make the effort, in enough numbers, to actively support the Vote Out Incumbent Democracy our nation and future in America so desperately need to get our country back on track. To vote for an incumbent who refuses to work with and compromise with the other party's elected representatives, is to maintain the corrupted and unresponsive Congress that has our nation headed toward ruin.

It must stop. And we, the voters, are the only ones who can stop it. We are, collectively, potentially more powerful than the lobbyists, wealthy special interests, and the political parties, if we choose to be. And it doesn't require all voters. It doesn't even require most voters. The simple fact is, about half of all Congressional races are won by a margin of less than 20%. So, it really only takes 20% of us voters dedicated to voting them out to reduce the reelection rate from 90% to 50%.

Just 20%. Be one of the proud. Be one of the movers. Be one of the 20% of anti-incumbent voters who alters the outcome of your incumbent's race. Your incumbent Congress person and mine, at the very least, is ineffective in persuading fellow Congress persons to legislate in a responsible manner for our, and our nation's, future. That is justification enough to vote for their challenger, giving that challenger the unambiguous message, that their reelection bid will fare no better if they don't do a better job than the incumbent they just replaced.

It's up to us, to contribute whatever time, energy, and money we can afford to the cause of changing the way Congress conducts our national affairs and manages our hard earned tax dollars. It is up to us. If we don't do it, we have no reason to believe others will. It is up to us.

11-24-2009 Meeting Minutes

2009-12-18T00:05:43Z

Vote Out Incumbents Democracy
Minutes of Board Meeting convened November 24, 2009 at 9 PM CST
In attendance via conference call, Edward Southwick, Andrew Kugler, and David Remer

Old Business
Board members reviewed and accepted the third quarter 2009 financial statement. Cash balance at the end of the quarter was $3421.20.

David Remer presented receipts for expenses in providing VOID with postage and office supplies for conducting its membership and supporter activities. Total of receipts was 160.04. Motion was made to authorize reimbursement to David Remer for these expenses. Motion carried unanimously.

Remer reported that our Texas State Franchise Report was filed in a timely manner on Oct. 26, 2009. No taxes were due or payable.

]]> New Business
Motion was made to approve a membership dues increase on Jan. 1, 2010, for the individual and family memberships, to $20 and $35 respectively. Motion carried unanimously.

The following proposal was made. A membership renewal drive be set up ASAP at the beginning of December, to provide past members and current supporters an opportunity to become members at current rates. Remer agreed to set this up and offer memberships before new rates go into effect.

Board members discussed the roles and responsibilities that each would assume on the Board. Motion was put that Mr. Remer act as president, Mr. Southwick would act as treasurer - bookkeeper, and Mr. Kugler would act in the role of Secretary/Record keeper. Motion stipulates that Remer would act as the Treasurer of Record with the Federal Elections Commission, and Secretary of record with the Texas State Comptroller's office. It was also agreed, that many tasks will be interactive and each board member would support operations on an as needed basis, crossing at times, these defined roles. Motion carried unanimously.

Board discussed possible advertising and publicity strategies through other anti-incumbent themed web sites. It was agreed more information regarding these sites and standard rates per traffic volume would need to be gathered before proceeding on this path. Remer agreed to send Southwick a list of sites and Remer and Southwick would research this.

Two agenda items were tabled for a future meeting due to time constraints. They were a discussion and review of VOID's history, discussion of proposing to the public what they could expect to see as change if the VOID movement is successful.

Discussion took place over providing members and supporters yard signs in some fashion saying Vote Out Incumbents, in the 3 months prior to elections. Remer agreed to research the costs of providing and or mailing these to members and supporters who requested them.

Other ideas for expanding VOID's reach to the public were offered by Kugler, Southwick and Remer to include, guest speakers availability from VOID, volunteer development, Commitment to vote out incumbent statements, and a future brainstorming session, were discussed and to be pursued in future meetings.

Next Board meeting was tentatively set for 3 weeks from this day.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM CST

Congress Crippled By Democrats and Republicans

2009-12-15T00:01:19Z

Regardless of whether one is for, or against, the current health care reform bills, it is clear Congress is incapable of handling the people's business. The American people know, as do the experts, that America desperately needs health care reform before our disorganized system bankrupts the country or, results in revolt by the people, or, both. Yet, Congress is incapable of producing any kind of health care reform, thanks largely to the incumbent Democrats and Republicans who prefer party and personal business to the people's business.

]]> It couldn't be clearer that Republicans are lock and goose stepping to the drum of obstructing the nation's business in favor of tarnishing the public image of the Democrats in power. It is just as clear that Democrats are marching to the drum of expedience without a shred of principle, as they compromise and nullify all attempts at reform which could actually save America's and the people's economic future, all for the sake of putting a notch for any kind of bill's passage on their political belt.

America is in serious trouble. The time to get out of trouble is when one still has choices; not after the ill-fated consequences have been realized for lack of appropriate action and choice. Those who are concerned about deficits and debt, should be demanding health care reform that drives down the government's future cost of health care safety net programs like Medicare. But, that is not the case. Those who are concerned about the sustainability of safety nets for themselves and their children in this country, should be demanding cost effective and efficient health care reform. But, they aren't.

This health care reform effort has demonstrated that the incumbents in Congress have personal and party turf to protect and the needs of the people and the nation will just have to take a back seat to these. Is this what we voted for our Congress persons to do? If so, shame on you and me for supporting the demise of our country and turning our back on her future. If not, then you have an obligation to vote for a challenger in 2010, instead of your current representative, regardless of what you think of them.

One thing is acutely clear. Every Congress person currently in the House or Senate, has been ineffective in bringing about the kind of health care reform our nation must have to survive as a prosperous nation. You wouldn't go to an ineffective doctor or lawyer would you? So, why vote for an ineffective representative? Do you want a doctor who tries and fails to heal you, or one who heals you? Do you want a lawyer who tries to defend you, or actually defends your rights to the maximum degree under law? Then why settle for politicians who say they tried?

It is not enough that a representative agrees with your ideas. That won't save America. Your representative must persuade enough other representatives to pass legislation that will agree with your ideas of where our nation needs to go, or, they are ineffective. To date, whether it be banking reform, fiscal deficits and debt, health care reform, social security reform, or any other needed reform, your and my representatives have been ineffective in bringing such reforms about.

The only logical and intelligent response is to vote out our current ineffective representative. To do that we must vote for their challenger, regardless of whether the challenger will be an improvement, or not. I know, at first this doesn't make sense. But, think about it, for a second.

If the Democratic and Republican parties both watch 40 or 50% of their party's Congress persons lose their seats in one election, how could they possibly ignore that and the voting public, any longer? The truth is, they couldn't, and won't. They will immediately conduct polls to find out what the voters want, and work their tails off getting it, in order to insure they are not one of the next to get voted out of office, especially after only one term in office.

And what do Americans want as a majority? They want real solutions to real problems, that pass through in the Congress, and work. Knowing this, both parties will recognize that they must work together on behalf of the people or, watch their power further erode. It is really that simple. The power in a democracy ultimately rests with the voting public. If the voting public won't act responsibly on election day, then neither will their representatives.

The time is now to adopt an anti-incumbent voting strategy for as long as it takes for the rest of voters to catch-up and demand real world solutions to real world American problems. It may take 2 or 3 elections. But, if you do your part, convince your friends and family of the logical and rational approach which anti-incumbent voting is, and take them with you to vote, America can once again have a Congress that will put the people and the nation's future at the top of their priority list, and lobbyists and wealthy special interests at lower rung. They will then pass legislation that solves national problems. It is up to you and me to make this happen. We can do this thing, but, we have to get the word and logic out, far and wide, as quickly as possible. Time is running out on our, and the next generation's future. Let's get this VOID boulder rolling taking out more and more incumbent's in its path. We can do this. W e must do this, if our America is to survive and prosper again.

Dec. 2009 - Newsletter

2009-12-07T19:22:47Z

Dec. 7, 2009

We wish you all the very warmest and happiest holidays.

Last month's off-year elections were overwhelmingly anti-incumbent. From governor's races to local city councils, anti-incumbent voters overwhelmed incumbent supporters. It is crucial that we keep this momentum going and strengthen it into the 2010 mid-term elections.

]]> December is VOID membership drive month. Supporters of voting out incumbents can become members of the VOID organization this month, and pocket the saving of a rate increase in 2010.

Has it been more than a year since you became a member? Your membership can be renewed at current rates, before the increase in January. If you have not yet become a VOID member, and have been wanting to, there is no better time than now.

VOID is gearing up for the 2010 elections and we need donations to purchase the communications, yard signs, and other items to spread the Vote Out Incumbents message around the country. (Rest assured that all donations to VOID are used entirely for promoting the Vote Out Incumbent message and concept to voters. No person at VOID is paid. We are all volunteers.)

The VOID directors met on Nov. 24. It was a lively and very productive meeting with our two new board members, Edward Southwick and Andrew Kugler. Among other items, the board agreed that to meet certain VOID objectives, an increase in annual membership donations would be necessary effective Jan. 1, 2010. The individual membership will go from 15 to 25 dollars, and family membership from 25 to 35 dollars. All other donation categories remain the same.

Now is the time to come to the aid of your country and force Congress to relinquish the seats of power which they failed to use for the nation's and people's best interests. Congress is supposed to solve the nation's problems, not increase their number. But, the number of problems our nation has to deal with, continues to grow out of control.

If you are employed and see the need for change, please make a holiday donation for membership in VOID. Your membership donation will help VOID convince more voters to cast that all important anti-incumbent vote in the new year's mid-term elections next November.
We know many family budgets are tight. If becoming a member is not an option this year, we understand entirely, and wish you a more prosperous 2010. You can support VOID another way. If you have more time than money, please volunteer an hour per week to VOID, helping us reach fellow American voters. Just go to our Volunteer Web Page and Form and let us know you are ready to help.
None of our volunteer roles require more than an hour per week, and many of them less than that on average. Active volunteers are automatically provided VOID membership and privileges.

VOID volunteers can build valuable resume' qualifications in these roles. Any VOID Volunteer who fills one of these positions for a year or more, shall upon request, be issued a positive Letter of Recommendation to potential employers citing their responsibilities and competence in fulfilling those responsibilities.

We respect and thank you for your support. We look forward to to a better future for us all by forcing out incumbents and mandating to challengers that re-election will depend on our seeing that better future become reality.

Sincerely,
David Remer, Andrew Kugler, and Edward Southwick
VOID directors.

____________________

We would like to extend a special thanks to the generous support of a $250 family lifetime membership at VOID by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kugler of Texas.

Thank you for your participation and support of Vote Out Incumbents Democracy in the past, present, and into the future. Together, spreading the VOID word, America can take a turn toward a more promising and responsible future.

Sign In Problem Fixed, Happy Holiday

2009-11-24T18:46:25Z

Nov. 24, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving VOID supporters, and thank you for your support of better government from our U.S. Congress.

We also extend an apology to those who have been inconvenienced by not being able to figure out the Sign In process on our web site. Apparently, a software setting we thought had been set, hadn't in actuality. Our sincere apology. Signing in now takes visitors to a default log in screen where simply entering one's user name and password are all that is required.

We have life, hopefully health, and unprecedented freedom in human history to act on our own and each other's behalf. For all of America's ills, we should never lose sight of these, nor relinquish our disposition to be ever thankful for the good fortune of living in America. There are many worse places one might have called home.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Anti-Incumbent Sentiment on the Move

2009-11-16T20:32:05Z

November 16, 2009

At long last, after decades of mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayers and their dollars, and years of effort and support by Vote Out Incumbents Democracy, the polling numbers show the American public is finding the VOID prescription to be just what the doctor ordered.

]]> In a Washington Post article today, entitled, So Much For The Power of Incumbency, Chris Cillizza writes:

In Pew Research Center's polling, just over half of Americans said they would like to see their members of Congress reelected next fall. Only 34 percent said they want most incumbents to be reelected in the midterms.

Pew describes those numbers as among the most negative in two decades of collecting data. They approach levels found in the run-ups to the 1994 and 2006 midterms -- elections in which there were significant seat changes in the House and Senate.

Now is not the time to rest on our laurels. While the public is re-awakening to the anti-incumbent strategy in dealing with a derelict Congress and the political party's antics, the majority of them are reacting to current policy issues and have not yet adopted a longer term anti-incumbent strategy to maintain better government from our Congress.

This means Vote Out Incumbents Democracy's efforts and purpose to insure a sustainable and growing anti-incumbent voting block election after election, is as important and vital as ever to achieving better government. Voters rejected incumbents to a larger degree in 1994, but, then went back to voting for incumbents for the most part, until 2006. And our nation is no better off for it.

To make real changes for the better in our federal government, we must sustain a growing anti-incumbent voting block across multiple elections. Only then, will those in Congress acknowledge that the voters are calling the shots and will continue to do so until a sustained improvement in Congress' performance on behalf of the American people is realized. One election or two of anti-incumbent backlash, won't accomplish the value and priority changes that Congress and both the political parties must adopt.

Your support is vital to our mission to inform and organize a sustained anti-incumbent movement that can accomplish the systemic changes which Americans demand from the political process and Congress. This will not occur in one or two elections. We must continue to grow the anti-incumbent voting block.

Fortunately, there has never been a better political climate for VOID. The rise of the Independent voters who have had enough of the status quo incompetence, and upside down priorities of politicians in both parties, prepares a stage for anti-incumbent growth that did not exist in 1994, and which will last across many federal elections. We must reach out to these independent voters and congratulate them and encourage them to maintain their anti-incumbent stance for many elections to come.

To be sure, every politician in Congress will be trying to divine how to placate these voters with pork spending, misinformation and lies, and bashing the other party. But, we know such actions will not change Congressional irresponsibility toward the American public and tax payers. And it is our job at VOID to insure that growing numbers of independent voters understand this as well, and help them resist being bought off in the short term by their representatives in favor of preserving the destructive status quo in Congress of legal bribery, hateful rhetoric, meaningless partisan non-cooperation on the people's behalf, and politicians putting themselves and their party as higher priorities than the nation's and the people's futures in our America.

The time is now, to promote the VOID strategy taking advantage of this independent voter growth and growing hostility toward Congressional performance. Please do your part in support of these efforts by following these 3 easy steps:

1) Spread the word to family, friends, and acquaintances why voting out our own representatives and for their challengers is the only way the people have of forcing Congress to change. As well intentioned as our own representatives may be, the simple fact is, they have proven to be ineffective in creating a responsible Congress and better governance. Voters don't have to vote for another party's candidate. They only have to vote for a challenger in their own party's Primary elections, to carry the Vote Out Incumbents movement forward. Help your friends, family, and acquaintances to understand this.

2) Become a dues paying Member of VOID, today. Every dollar VOID receives goes toward promoting the VOID strategy and objective of better Congressional governance. Membership includes a Vote Out Incumbents window/bumper sticker, membership card, and voting rights in the election of VOID director elections, among other privileges.

3) Share your ideas and thoughts about the VOID organization and mission on our Community web site. Organizations need interaction amongst its members. It is the juice that keeps the blood flowing in the volunteers and supporters as they contribute their time and effort to making America a better run country for us all. Or better, consider volunteering an hour or two per week, yourself, and really make a personal difference for our nation's future.

I have spent 4 years volunteering my time and effort at VOID, and it has been the most gratifying and rewarding experience of my life, to be at the forefront of working to improve our nation's future. It could be for you, too.

Spread the word, become a proud member, and share your thoughts and experience with other VOID supporters. Three easy steps to insuring an improvement in America's federal government and our nation's future.

As the Wa. Post's article says: "... this sort of political environment is decidedly unpredictable and could lead to surprising defeats for presumed safe incumbents -- of both parties -- next November."

Let's make this happen.

Term Limits: The Fake Gesture is Resurrected

2009-11-12T23:18:35Z

Some Republicans are calling for Term Limits of those in Congress. When you are done laughing your arse off, please continue reading. Term Limits were in the Contract With America, offered by Republicans in 1994. As soon as Republicans acquired the majority in government to enact term limits, the entire issue was never spoken of by the GOP again. Until now, that is. Now, that they are the diminished minority, again.

]]> Despite the Supreme Court's two rulings striking down term limits questions as unconstitutional (arbitrarily restricts voter choice on election day), and despite Republicans failure to get even close to the majority required in the House in the 1990's for a Constitutional Amendment to invoke Congressional term limits, some Republicans are raising the issue again. (Constitutional amendment by legislature requires 2/3 majority assent in both houses of Congress, and then ratification by 3/4 of the State's legislatures or conventions.) The reason Republicans are raising the issue again is clear, and it has nothing to do with hopes of its passage which, are non-existent.

Proponents of term limits can be found amongst Democrats, Republicans and independent voters. But, when push comes to shove on Election Day, Democratic voters vote for their Democratic incumbent, and Republican voters vote for their Republican incumbent, and only Independent voters are prone to vote against the incumbent by voting for their challenger, regardless of the incumbent's Party. Since, independent voters now control the outcome of federal elections, it is politically shrewd of some Republicans to cater to this independent group by attempts to resurrect the term limits issue as champions of it, knowing that the majority party would logically oppose term limits. Which begs the question, are Republicans playing independent voters for dupes and dopes, or, are Republicans themselves dupes and dopes in wasting our time and effort on a proposal that doesn't even have a snowball's chance in Hell of passing?

California established Term Limits for their Legislature in the early 1990's. What do voters think of the results? More than four in ten registered voters (43%) think that limiting the terms of state legislators has had no effect on the overall job performance of the legislature. Of the rest, 24% believe that there has been an improvement, while 15% think term limits have led to a decline in their overall performance. Clearly, term limits has not had the anticipated result in California.

If you are an independent voter, don't be a dupe or dope in attaching any loyalty to Republicans calling for term limits. It is both a gambit and ruse. The practical and plausible action to invoke term limits without a Constitutional amendment is simple. Don't vote for incumbents (those in office seeking reelection). Convince your friends and family that the only term limits available today to voters is their refusal on Election Day to vote for an incumbent. If you usually vote Republican, vote for a challenger in the Republican Primary. If you usually vote Democrat, vote for a Democratic challenger in the Democratic Primary election.

And if your purpose is to really throw a wrench into the well-honed system of gerrymandered and seemingly predetermined election choices, vote cross party for the other party's challenger. The goal is to deny the politicians their predictability in being reelected. One of the main reasons politicians do NOT vote in Congress according to the demands and will of the people is simply because the people traditionally don't hold incumbents responsible on election day. Voters can change that, and they are. These off-year elections this month demonstrated a clear anti-incumbent sentiment and intention by voters. The PEW Research Center poll indicates 53 percent of those polled want incumbents to get the boot next year, (the poll conducted Oct. 28 - Nov. 8, 2009).

When politicians can't be assured of their reelection because their actions result in government performance voters will NOT reelect, then, and only then, will Congressional politicians acknowledge that their reelection now depends upon improving government performance in the eyes of the voters, and not on their wealthy special interest lobbyists and campaign donors. This has been the vision of the PAC known as Vote Out Incumbents Democracy since its formation in 2006. Their Vote Out Incumbents car window/bumper stickers can be seen in more than half the states of the union.

Voting out incumbents is not as sexy or easily communicated from person to person as Term Limits, but, it is available to every single voter in the nation, unlike Term Limits legislation which will never be legal as long as the majority Party in Congress refuses to vote for such legislation, and why would the majority Party vote for legislation that would unseat so many of their own?

So, if you are a realist or, a practical voter who wishes term limits were possible, you will invoke term limits with your vote in 2010 by refusing to vote for you representative running for reelection. And you won't have to wait for a Constitutional Amendment which, will never come.

I also highly recommend laughing in the face of any elected Congressman or woman, Democrat or Republican, who tries to get your reelection vote by telling you they will vote for Term Limits to unseat themselves. Perhaps, with enough of us laughing at these Congresspersons all at once, we can render them all deaf and they will resign, which would be just as good as term limits, if not better.

The Stakes Could NOT Be Higher

2009-11-09T17:20:26Z

Failure in Washington is not an option. America last year finished its long circular journey from 1940 to return to the precipice of national collapse. Unlike 1929, however, instead of taking that next drop off step, we sidestepped along the edge of the precipice, where we still remain today; at the edge.

]]> The stakes could not be higher in Washington D.C. and for the American people. This much, the Tea Baggers get very accurately, along with the Federal Reserve and economists, and some, but, possibly not enough, in Wash. D.C.'s halls of government. We shall see.

All political and legislative policy issues now lead back to the Economy. Whether it is Afghanistan policy, missile defense in E. Europe, or education and law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services at home, the cost of addressing these issues will impact upon our long term economic future and our ability to survive that future without 1930's type desperation and futility experienced by 100 million Americans or more. Even debates over whether 9/11 planners are warriors or criminals, are costing America precious time. America has far more pressing and consequential demands placed upon our nation, such as, more than doubling the national debt in 9 years and how to stop that growth, fighting wars on multiple fronts against all wisdom of military history, and untold numbers of failures to address domestic economic and infrastructure needs, roadways, education, and waste and water transport,
in a timely, and far less costly fashion.

Those hoping for a divided Congress in 2010 have very short memories. The Congress between 2006 and 2008 was a politically divided Congress which killed Pres. Bush's legislative agenda, and caused both Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to wear the despicable label in the press of the "Do Nothing Congress". And every indication to date indicates another Do Nothing Congress is precisely what we will have in 2011 and 2012. Which means, if any of America's difficult long term systemic problems are to be resolved, they must be resolved in the next 12 months. One year is a pitifully short period of time to attempt to restructure oversight, accountability, and transparency on Wall St., restore jobs and economic activity for approximately 14 million unemployed, and create health care reform which will avert the disastrous consequence of bankrupting the middle class and poor in the future and the American economy along with it.

The delay and obfuscation tactics of Republicans in Congress are wasting America's precious time and resources to address our nation's major priorities. The Democrat's succumbing to the corporate interests and lobbyists is so compromising reform efforts, as to render some of them more harmful than helpful; as in the case of Banking System reform which, current Committee bills utterly and completely fail to reform at all by reinstating the essential provisions of the Glass Steagal Act, and overturning the economically lethal provisions in the Gramm Leach Bliley Act. These bills also completely fail to address breaking up these Too-Big-To-Fail financial institutions, which only perpetuates the threat they posed to our nation, and the world, in 2008.

Rep. Boehner is right when he said this week that there is a rebellion occurring in America. However, his political myopia completely misses the mark in attempting to identify that rebellion. The thrust of his argument is that Americans are moving toward the GOP and conservative ideology. The empirical evidence doesn't support his argument. The empirical evidence coming from polls and off year elections demonstrate that the rebellion underway is against BOTH the Democratic and Republican Parties, and toward a more individual candidate choice not based on party affiliation but, voter's confidence in that candidate's proposed solutions to the problems voters face locally and nationally. The dramatic increase in Independent voters and losses of momentum in growth of registered Democrats and Republicans stands as stark evidence of this fact.

The problem for America in addressing solutions to its challenges is that this new majority of self-identified Independent voters lacks any cohesive or consistent approach to political solutions. They even lack any kind of cohesive Independent Party to represent them as a new voter block majority. This does not bode well for the direction of America's future in the short term. It would appear the only common traits Independent voters share as a voting block is their growing propensity to vote anti-incumbent, and their rapidly growing distrust of both major political parties. How does America build a consensus in policy approach based on this paucity of shared Independent voter traits?

Pres. Obama has come closest to answering this question in any kind of meaningful way when he built his campaign on the concept of change. Change in policy did appeal to the majority of independent voters in 2008. But, now that changes are taking shape in the form of legislation, that unity behind change has quickly splintered, especially amongst independent voters. A majority of Americans acknowledge and agree that health care reform is mandatory to saving their own middle class financial future as well as the nation's economic future. But, finding a 50% plus one majority amongst Independents for the current legislative proposals for health care reform is like finding a dropped penny in Mammoth Cave without any light, whatsoever.

Historically, in times of great peril and threat to the nation and her future, Americans have in 5 years or less, found resolutions that could rescue that future for all. While such history offers up hope that Americans and their leaders will once again rise to the occasion before it is too late, one is hard pressed to identify the mechanics of just how such a rescue is even conceivable, given the current political lack of will by America's leaders to even embrace the changes which are called for by the challenges facing the nation and people.

The wealthiest in America will be largely immune from the collapse of the American economy and its devastating effects on the America public. Yet, it is a common perception of the non-wealthy population that these very same individuals are in control of the process of designing America's future direction and fate. The anxiety and sense of foreboding which this creates in the American public is why the polling of government policy and direction are so negative. And the public is rebelling in a several ways.

The Tea Baggers represent one form of rebellion. The 8 fold increase in the savings rate is another, which is in many ways a very positive form of rebellion except for the drag it places on climbing away from the economic recession experienced this year and the 10.2 percent falsely stated unemployment number which in reality, considering all categories of the unemployed, now rests around 22% give or take a few percent. Desertion from the registered voter rolls of the GOP and Democratic Party are another form of rebellion. The growing number of American citizens choosing to live overseas is another form. And the most devastating form of rebellion shows up in the rising drop out rate from our schools, employment system, and the rise of homelessness which increasingly represents a rise in hopelessness amongst American citizens, a percentage of which is made up of former armed forces veterans.

These are the signs of our times, which the media does not want to cover, the government and politician's don't want voters to be aware of, and which extremists wish to exploit for their own power and recognition development. Hopelessness preceded the decimation of the American Indian tribes by Manifest Destiny. Hopelessness preceded the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and grew throughout the Viet Nam War. Hopelessness pervaded the Jim Crow era, and founded the fear base for the rise of the Red Scare and McCarthy era in the 1940's and 1950's when Americans feared those they could not identify but feared were walking amongst them in disguise.

The stakes could not be higher. If Americans embrace hopelessness, America's challenges will go unsolved and our future will be horribly diminished by it. The alternative is that Americans shun hopelessness, and begin making demands and holding to account the leadership of our nation using their email, their phones, and their votes.

The hope lies in Americans rediscovering their power over their leaders by revoking such leadership roles until the replacement leaders respond to the American people's demands for better. I disagree with the information base and premises of the Tea Baggers, but, I must admire and commend their activism and taking charge of their own fate and future in this country as American citizens. If the majority of Americans in this country will allow themselves to become equally active in demanding better than what we are now getting from our leaders, hope can yet guide the design of America's future.

Special Interests In Charge

2009-10-20T20:05:56Z

When health care reform was announced as on the agenda, the majority of Americans were for it. Then came the Republicans and other conservatives to convince the American people they didn't want it. Public support dropped below 50%. Then the Democrats came back with facts and data from the CBO, and over time, nearly 75% polled were for health care reform again, and today, 54% want the Public Option, with 40% not wanting it. Just when the Democrats have the public on their side to pass health care reform with the public option with the majority of the public's blessing, what do they do? Less than 10 of them, including Senate Leader Harry Reid, refuse to put the Public Option in place, creating dissent and havoc in the ranks of Democrats.

]]> Who is pulling the strings of those in Congress? If your hunch is the health insurance companies, the evidence would back you up. The health insurance companies have targeted their lobbying and blackmail efforts on key Democrats in districts where reelection is anything but assured due to large conservative constituencies. They threaten to launch campaigns during the election season targeting these incumbent Democrats with ads depicting them as government take over artists of America's health care system and socialists destroying capitalism in America. And these Democrats are yielding to these special interests who are fighting to preserve their 400% increase in profits as your and my health insurance premiums doubled in the same period.

The VA and Medicare and Medicaid didn't put private health insurers out of business and they are government run health insurance organizations. In fact, quite the opposite happened, private health insurers have produced all time high records for profits and and executive compensation along side these government run health insurance programs. That's the history and those are the facts. So, why do we, as voters and a majority in this country, tolerate these incumbents who submit to being lackey's for the wealthy special interests? The answer would fill volumes of books, but, suffice to say, we voters should not be tolerating this kind of abandonment of the majority in America by their representatives in Congress.

Same deal with the financial and banking sectors, rapaciously raising fees, interest rates, and monthly payments on customers while the getting is good. For all the arguments to the contrary, there simply is no rational excuse for Congress allocating bailouts of the banks and financial sector which were not tied to serious penalties and stringent oversight and regulation immediately following. But, the wealthy special interests again, had their way under the Bush administration with last year's Congress, and so far, they have had their way as well under the Obama administration and this year's Congress, which hasn't passed one single piece of legislation to revamp oversight and regulation of this industry.

Needless to say, the result is 140 billion dollars to be passed out by the banks and financial corporations in executive compensation this year alone. This should cause voters to rail at both the industry and their Congressional representatives. But, moreover, shareholders should be in an uproar, as these executives cost shareholders enormously from Sept. 2008 through March of 2009, and the lion's share of this 140 billion dollars windfall profits on the back of tax payer deficits, should be directed as compensation to shareholders for their losses over the last year. Instead, this money is directed to reward those who nearly brought the global economy and our own to a grinding halt.

So, I ask you? What higher reason would a voter have to reelect their representative in light of these historical events of incompetence, greed, bribery, and blackmail which ran unbridled through our midst, destroying 401K balances, stock portfolios, and pension retirement funds, not to mention more than half of all State economies in which we live?

At some point, voters must reject these kinds of results from their Congress, or else, Americans will experience the diminished future and increased hardships which our representative's loyalties to the wealthy special interests are fashioning for us all.

Don't vote for them again, in 2010. If you are a Democrat, vote for a Democratic challenger in the Primary. Likewise, if you are a Republican. If you are an Independent, vote for anyone of your choosing in the primary and general election except the incumbent running for reelection. When enough of us follow this prescription, our nation will begin to heal, and our democracy restored to its original purpose: to remove those in power who abuse the privileges of having it on our behalf.

Andrew Kugler Becomes Newest Board Member

2009-09-27T07:37:20Z

Sept. 27, 2009

I am pleased to announce that with all member votes counted, Andrew Kugler becomes VOID's newest board member.

A board meeting was conducted with outgoing Stephanie Christ, David Remer, and Edward Southwick on Sept. 22. A brief VOID history has been drafted and is currently under review. It will be posted as soon as ready.

Another board meeting will be scheduled in October with our newest director, to bring everyone up to date, and continue charting VOID's success going forward.

VOID has a number of other volunteer roles and titles to be filled in coming months which can be found by clicking here. Please review these roles for your consideration in volunteering to promote the VOID cause toward the 2010 elections and beyond.

There is a Truth about Democracy

2009-09-14T22:39:25Z

The Tea Partyer's are fabricating a 2 million person march this last Weekend, referring ABC News, which estimated at most, 70,000 persons, about half a football stadium. Rep. Barney Franks (D) is proposing to deal with 'Too Big To Fail' institutions by having them bail themselves out when they go into bankruptcy. Yeah, right! Olympia Snowe (R) says today a public option is not an option in the Senate because Republicans will not vote for it, as a clever way of dealing with her position as the potential swing vote on the Senate's health care proposal. Political news is fraught with lies, illogical propositions, and deceptions presented by those who stand to gain by those lies, absence of logic, and misrepresentations.

]]> But, there is one fact about government that can be ignored, but, never denied. Those in government are responsible for that government. All of them. If 99% of those in government are headed in the wrong direction, the one percent headed in the right direction simply prove themselves to be entirely ineffective in convincing the other 99% to change direction.

Because of this one fact about government, there exists a truth about democracy: The vote was created to vote out of office those in government, who are responsible for a government the people can no longer accept or tolerate. When the people can no longer accept the results of their government, they have a duty to vote out their own incumbents who are either responsible for it, or ineffective in changing it.

In a democracy, to continue to reelect the ineffective, or those pushing bad government, takes the responsibility away from the politicians and puts it directly on the shoulders of the voter. If the politicians are responsible, we voters have an obligation to remove them. If we don't, then we are responsible for the bad government we live under and rail against. Simple truth is hard to find in politics. But, this simple truth is as old and true as the idea of democracy. Embrace it, and live by it, with the hope that others will come to this truth as well by our example and explanation.

Many have observed that we are a government of, by, and for the corporations and politicial parties. Only when politician's fear the disapproval of the voters will they observe Abraham Lincoln's prescription for government; of, by, and for the people. Politician's have nothing at all to to fear from the public if the majority of voters are unwilling to vote out their own incumbents.