Americans who want to reform the federal government should seek a constitutional amendment giving them the power to recall federal officials. by Joel S. Hirschhorn
(libertarian)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Nothing is more powerful in a democracy than fed up citizens lawfully yanking public officials out of their jobs. Considering all the frustration and anger about government that is too big, expensive, corrupt and dysfunctional, it is wise to consider how much better American democracy would be if citizens could recall members of Congress, the President and even Supreme Court Justices. In a world moving at faster and faster speeds why wait for the usual ways to fix government, especially when none of them seem to work?
Fearful politicians have given citizens in relatively few states and local governments the right to recall government officials. A most memorable and recent recall was the governor of California, Gray Davis, in 2003.
Direct voting to recall government officials is a prime example of direct democracy. The action may be called a recall election or a recall referendum. It is needed when representative democracy fails the public. Which most Americans definitely think is the case for Congress.
Only eighteen states allow recall of state officials. Specific grounds for recall are required in only eight states.Eleven states allow recall of judicial officials. Inat least 29states (some sources place this number at 36), recall elections may be held in local jurisdictions. Three-fourths of recall actions in the US are at the city council or school board level.
Here are some other recent successful recalls.
1983 recall efforts of two Michigan state senators
1988 recall of Oregon state legislator
1995 recall of two California Assembly members
2002 recall of mayor of Flint, Michigan.
2002 recall of multiple Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, elected county officials
2003 recall of Wisconsin State Senator
2005 recall of mayor of Spokane, Washington.
2006 recall of mayor of Roosevelt, New Jersey
In 1988, Arizona voters filed enough signatures to trigger a recall election for Governor Evan Mecham, but he was impeached by the state's House of Representatives before the date of the scheduled recall election.
In some places the successor to a recalled official is elected at the same time, others in a special election afterwards and in others by appointment.
Right now there is no way to recall federal officials. Don't you think it is time to change this? If you do, then understand that there must be a constitutional amendment and clearly Congress will never propose such an amendment.
What is the alternative? The Founders gave us the path to such reform. They gave us the option in Article V of a convention of state delegates that has the same power as Congress to propose constitutional amendments. Learn about it at Friends of the Article V Convention website, and learn why Congress has refused to obey the Constitution and give us the convention that over 700 applications from all 50 states have asked for.
Recall should be seen as a serious alternative to voting federal incumbents out of office. This has never worked to any significant degree for a host of reasons, despite serious attempts to vote out congressional incumbents. Prime among them is that once in office members of Congress become addicted to power and corrupted by money used to stay in office.
What about term limits? This sounds good, but here too many people once in office may do things that the public condemns while still within their allowed terms. Better to have them fearful of being recalled rather than not being reelected. Also note that impeachment and criminal prosecution are difficult legal processes to remove an official from office. Usually it is incompetence, dishonesty and nonresponsiveness to constituents that angers people.
There is probably more discussion now about constitutional amendments than in a very long time. But, oddly, those who seek true reforms seem oblivious to the enormous power of the recall option. Think about it. We the people should have the sovereign right to fire federal officials, especially members of Congress, but even the President and Supreme Court Justices. That way they are more likely to respect the Constitution and really listen to we the people, rather than the corporate and other special interests that feed them big money so they can keep telling us big lies. If we don't get the power to fire bad government officials, then future generations will pay a very, very high price.
Don't be a constitutional hypocrite. Support using the Article V convention option. Let your members of Congress know that you want one. Let everyone know you support having the recall option for federal officials. If all government officials work for us, then we need the constitutional right to fire them. If you want to take back your country from the rich and powerful, then recall power is needed. Power to the people!
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 11
thumbs so far
The views expressed
in this article are those of Joel S. Hirschhorn only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
Joel S. Hirschhorn is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Sheesh, sometimes I would just like to pack up my stuff and get the heck out of this country. I don't think I've seen things so broken in this country in my lifetime. I'm beginning to long for those good old days of the Nixon era. They seem pleasant in comparison. At least the Glass-Steigal Act was still enforced and Nader was still getting his stuff signed off by the president.
Wall Street Banksters are thumbing their noses at the American public, Congress is in a perpetual grid lock because most of the 535 members have their campaigns churning away 24/7, Corporate Media is a wortless joke, Still no SinglePayer healthcare, the Military Industrial Complex is sucking up over 50% of the federal budget, Two wars with no end in sight, 15 million people out of work, homelessness is off the charts and getting worse,. a national obesity epidemic (and KFC has the audacity to introduce its "Double-Down" sandwich in the midst of it all)........ehhh, I'm sick of writing this crap.
Maybe we should recall most of Congress.
---------------------
The latest from Public Citizen:
"When Public Citizen asked 47 retiring lawmakers this week to sign a pledge not to take a lucrative lobbying job upon leaving Congress, we weren’t really expecting our phones to ring off the hook. Surely, though, someone among those outgoing representatives and senators would be willing to take the ethical high road?
So far, there are no takers. Zip, zilch, nada. We’re 0 for 47."
------------
That's a telling bit of information about the integrity and character of those who are taking up precious space in that structure in Washington DC we call Congress.
-----
I think there are more than a few lawmakers who need to be expeditiously recalled and made to spend a good long time in the private sector doing something purposeful for society. Some real work. Many of them get too out of touch after awhile. Some probably even need to spend some time in jail.
For reference. In 1929, the state of Wisconsin submitted an application for an initiative, referendum recall amendment within its Article V Convention application. Therefore this issue will be one that will be discussed at a convention.
Posted By: Victor Thomas
Date: 2011-04-08 17:15:58
Limit duration, of elected representatives to two terms.
\ twelve years before the can  ran a second time./Third term.Â
Lobists should be limited one two year term and supporting companies, should be required to pay lobist no more than then current salary,
Money for running canidates should be place in a common pool and equally distrubited to recognize party canidates of each party. Canidates should be limited to equal spending and with a cap amount.
Presidentual canidates should receive equal amonts from a common pool. Limited dollars each for TV, etc,. each canidate with a cap.
Elections should be of equal amounts spent and received. Extra monies to be pigeon holed for future elections and , as above, equally distributed to recogniZed canidates.
Questionable, lies, half truths, false  statements from a canidate should require be penitalized by subtracting dollars and air time from canidates. A appointed election committee by Federal, State , and local should be established to verify the canidated truthfullness..etc.,
People should not have to put up with canidates of a questionable statue. (Part of a representative filing should establish the character and residency of the applicant.)
The people should have the right to recall a representative lieing, etc.,  Not forfilling their obligations to the public, displaying own "waffling", fence sitting, own agenda, etc.
Those representative representing the American People should have their salaries at a local represented income of those people in their home states, state median (lawers, doctors, etc. not figured into the median.)
Those representing the American people in DC and State and Local should be held to a monthly budget and a sit dollar amount. Monthly salaries sit at the same E grade members of federal employment. and not higher than an E *8
