Removing Ineffective Politicians from Office
October 22, 2008 by Tim Snodgrass
There are many problems facing us today, but the power is in us to create real change. In this post I will examine a possible solution to one of those problems. Like the prototype that an auto manufacturer might use, it is intended to provoke the imagination and provide a platform with which to produce a more refined idea. Whether it survives the test of scrutiny and becomes polished by the process or dies while giving birth to other innovative ideas that solve the problem, it succeeds. Its success is dependent on you however, so please provide your feedback, refinements, or alternative solutions.
Problem: Our elected officials do not listen to their constituents.
Nothing illustrates this as clearly as the recent bailout plan approved by Congress. Although some data does suggest that 78% of Americans were open to some form of bailout, Americans were overwhelmingly displeased by the bill as passed by Congress on October 3rd. According to a CBS News Poll taken from October 3-5, 51% of Americans disapproved of the plan while only 31% approved. Despite such overwhelming disapproval, Congress overwhelmingly passed the bill with a vote of 263-171. Is it any wonder, that a July Gallup Poll put public approval of Congress at a record low of 14%?
Solution: Yearly confidence votes.
We live in a government which was designed to be “of the people, by the people, for the people” as so eloquently stated by President Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address. We elect our representatives to be our voice in government. If you owned a company and no longer had any confidence in one of your employees to do the job for which they had been hired, would you maintain him or her in that role? If an employee’s job was guaranteed for at least 4 years regardless of their performance, how might that affect their actions?
If “we the people” are to take control of our destiny, we must make it clear to our elected representatives that they serve at the pleasure of those whom elected them. Admittedly, the voice of the people is not always right, but our leaders should have the conviction, the courage, and the wisdom to persuade us to take a different path if they believe us to be in error. They should not simply supplant our desires with their own. To ignore the voice of the people breeds distrust, opens the door to corruption, and leads to anger. If our elected officials do not listen to our voice, whose voices are they listening to?
By implementing a confidence vote with the power to remove ineffective politicians from office we would give them a very real reason to listen. The persuasive whisperings of special interest would lose their seductive appeal in light of the constant reminder that a confidence vote would provide. Promises would need to be kept since they could not be swept aside for 2-6 years. Confidence votes would ensure that we controll our destiny as never before.
Many details would need to be sorted out before confidence votes could be enacted. Even a good leader can have a bad year, and the criteria for a vote of no confidence would need to be considered very carefully. Each office has subtle differences such as term length that would need to be considered when defining the criteria. The removal of an elected official can be a very difficult event on many levels and should not be triggered casually. Issues of succession would need to be considered very carefully and mechanisms would need to be put into place to ensure a smooth and simple transition of power. Despite the challenges that removing an elected official from office could cause, I am convinced that the cost of maintaining a bad leader in power is a much higher one.
The destiny of the country is in your hands. Do not give your birth right away. This is your country, and you have the right to choose the course that it will take and the responsibility to choose wisely. I have the faith that given the opportunity, you will do so.
What is the greatest thing we can do to ensure we are listened to by those we place in power?
I look forward to hearing your solutions.
[...] Establishment of new vehicles to remove ineffective politicians. The voice of the people must be first and foremost on the minds of our elected officials. We honor them with the offices which they hold to represent our needs, and our dreams, and they must be held accountable. We deserve not only good leadership, but great leadership, and I would work to make sure that happened, but giving people the ability to get rid of ineffective leaders. For further information on this subject check out my earlier post, Removing Ineffective Politicians from Office (http://www.thoughtrocket.com/blog/a-vote-of-confidence/2008/10/22/) [...]
Is there some kind of law in place like the lemon law to where we can get the current politicians that are not doing what there constituants are telling them? If so how can we put that law into motion?
Ed,
If you find something similar let us know. Part of the problem with politicians in most places and especially in Congress is that they are the only ones who determine all things having to do with them once they are elected. This includes their salary and benefits, their ethics, etc. To me the biggest deterrent to all of them not properly serving constituents is term limits. The problem is trying to find out what the process would be to get Congressional term limits turned into law. Unless it came to a vote of all citizens, it probably would never happen, especially if it was up to the politicians themselves to initiate the legislation and vote on it.
I even spoke to former Congressman and Constitutional scholar about how term limits might be initiated and he said he didn’t know. Somehow i didn’t believe him at the time. No reason why a Congressman should be allowed to serve longer than a President. Once they get entrenched in Washington you just can’t get rid of them and they start doing less for the people and more for the lobbyists and special interests. Their vision and interest only goes as far as the next election. That brings up really the only current way to get their attention – vote against them in the next electionm it is far from the perfect solution but it works.
This is the same idea I have had for our local municipal government but have been unable to put my hands on any legalese to change the city charter. Any help would be appreciated for wording for a petition.
Thanks