Monday, June 8, 2009

Vote 'em out

Both my regular readers know that I'm not exactly a Party Man. Mostly, I just like being left alone, which these days is getting harder and harder to do.

Let's consider the Republicans - the Stupid Party:
  • Corruption? If they've done anything about Abramoff and company, I sure haven't noticed.
  • Big Spenders? If they've changed their mind and decided that they can't buy my vote with my own money, I sure haven't noticed.
  • Party of Washington DC? If their goals are no longer appointing friends to positions of power, while stuffing their pockets with "campaign contributions", I sure haven't noticed.
The Democrats are worse - the Contemptible Party. Drunk on power, they're squandering my children's future:
  • Apres nous, le Déluge? If they've changed their minds about destroying the dollar, and making Entitlements "too big to fail", assuming that when the inevitable cuts come they'll protect their friends and hurt their enemies, I sure haven't noticed.
  • Shut up, he suggested. Show trials. "Fairness" Doctrine. If they hate the First Amendment less than they hate the Second Amendment, I sure haven't noticed.
  • Buy a Senate Seat? If they've changed their minds about turning the entire Republic into Chicago, I sure haven't noticed.
  • Lying bastards: Gay rights? Guantanamo? Don't appoint Lobbyists? If they think that anyone who voted for them isn't a sucker, I sure haven't noticed.
Corrupt, clueless, and vindictive. It's a trifecta!

Feh. The political elites on both sides aren't worth the time of day. We have two parties that are about nothing more than perpetuating their own power, at the expense of the governed.

However, there seems like there might be a way forward. It might be very effective indeed, letting the Political Class know that they sit in Congress on our sufferance. It's simple, which is necessary if you want to build it into something resembling a movement.

Vote against any incumbent. Any incumbent.

It doesn't matter who the incumbent is, or who is running against them - the parties are essentially interchangeable in their attitude towards power. But they all read the polls.

It doesn't even matter if many are voted out. If they realize that they're in a fight for their political careers - or if enough of them realize this - that will be a cold wake up call for the rest. Even ten percent of the races turning close will make (some of) them wise up.

And so, offered for your consideration, a call to action. Released into the public domain, as a service to the Republic:



9 comments:

Sevesteen said...

I can't find anything significant to disagree with. Until things change drastically, I will not vote for a majority incumbent, without very, very special circumstances.

Where I'll have trouble deciding is if someone from the majority party is trying to unseat an incumbent.

Ritchie said...

Bad politician
No vote

TOTWTYTR said...

Sooner or later maybe enough people will vote against the incumbents and we will have some turn over.

I've decided that I am going to vote against the incumbent, which in MA is very easy since every last one of them is corrupt. Just that some haven't been indicted yet.

If we do get to hit the reset button, the very first order of business will be term limits.

NotClauswitz said...

Don't forget the Tax-Cheats!
We got term-limits and wound up with a political merry-go-round in Sacramento where the Lt. Gov runs for Treasurer and the Treasurer runs for Insurance Commissioner, and the Insurance Commissioner runs for Lt. Gov... We got to get them off the treadmill.

Unknown said...

Term limits...and time limits. No more than, say, 16 years in office (of any kind, starting with dog catcher) during your lifetime. Plus, if you lose one election you're out forever.

Unknown said...

Oh, yeah...and the state that sent you pays your salary...and you don't get a f***** retirement!

Ross Burton said...

Absolutely. I may vote Democrat for the first time in my life just to mess with the incumbent. Out of all members of congress, he ranks 4th in earmarks and pork spending. Most of it supplies government jobs in my area, so I have little support from the locals.

Ross Burton said...

I agree.

I may vote Democrat for the first time in my life. Our incumbent Republicrat is the 4th highest spender of federal funds in Congress.

The locals like the money, so I can't seem to get much opposition to him.

perlhaqr said...

"Vote them out -- all of them" graphic as bumperstickers. I'll take 5.