Why VOID?
I'd like to share with you briefly why I am passionate about the anti-incumbent movement, as it were, and what it is about VOID as an organization that compelled me to volunteer some of my rare free time in support of it. Perhaps my story will hit home with you, and you too may feel it is a cause worth supporting in some way.
I am a life-long independent. I come from many generations of die-hard liberal Democrats. While I share many of their core beliefs and values, from an early age I recognized their tendency to follow the lead of their party, issue be damned; and I could never quite understand how they thought it best to look at things that way. I've always felt that a thoughtful analysis of each issue based on its value and merits is how people should view issues, and that that is the only way to achieve real progress for citizens.
The herd mentality of partisan voters fuels and enables the herd mentality of partisan politicians, so much so that it frees the political process from having to justify issues on any real factual basis. "Appeal to the base and ignore what's right and fair" has worked for political parties for generations. Those of us who steer clear of partisan politics are many but, we've always feared taking a stand and wasting a precious vote.
Well now, in this cyber-age of
information, coupled with runaway corruption in government, people are waking up to the power of our independent and thoughtful numbers, and are deciding in huge numbers to take a stand together to try to effect real change in our political system. The best way of achieving this goal is by voting out as many of the partisan politicians as possible. We won't fix this overnight in one election but we can put one heck of a scare into those who are voted out, and those who survive, that we demand accountability, true change, and an end to the corruption.
Vote Out Incumbents Democracy? Yes, this is about VOID as well. I found that this organization and the people who make it work share my values and goals in changing our political system for the better, and share the belief that the best way to go about that is with a thorough house cleaning, as it were. It is a small, dedicated group of people who believe in putting their votes and actions where their mouths are; that not only should we stand together to effect change, but that we must hold ourselves to the highest standards of accountability as well, if we expect others to follow us.
Please look around this website and get to know its volunteers. Hopefully after doing so you will find much in common and also feel compelled to get involved and make a difference.
Comments
Zeb Pike,
Thank you very much.
I know you put a great deal of thought into this.
There is one indisputable truth that NO one can refute.
Refusing to re-elect irresponsible, bought-and-paid-for, look-the-other-way incumbent politicians is what voters were supposed to be doing all along; ALWAYS.
We should keep the good politicians (if there are any?).
And, here are the many PROs and CONs.
For over a year now, I have asked people to list 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, much less 268 (half of 535) in Congress that are responsible, accountable, don't look-the-other-way, aren't bought-and-paid-for.
NO ONE ever did.
They offered all sorts of excuses.
The few that offered two or three names (at most) always offered up THEIR own incumbents.
The few that said they refused to vote for an incumbent in their district was mostly only because the incumbent was not in THEIR party.
Politicians love to fuel this petty, circular, distracting partisan warfare, and some voters are all too fond of wallowing in it.
Still, there is one indisputable fact that no one can refute.
In a voting nation, an educated electorate is paramount.
We will get that education.
But, the question is:
(a) Will it be the smart, less painful way?
(b) Or, will it be the hard, and unnecessarity painful way?
Posted by: d.a.n | November 6, 2006 11:13 AM
Zeb, thank you for this fine editorial. Your reasons for participating are sound.
And you are right. The voters who agree with VOID must do more than just say so. They must contribute to the cause and its momentum.
Authoritarian government is easy, it asks nothing of its people, in fact, it insists that they take no action.
Democracy is much harder. Action by the people, not words, are what move change and improve politics and preserve democracy. The minute the people leave it up to the politicians, we get government results just like what we have witnessed these last several years.
Democracy is hard work. Do your share, and it get easier for everyone. Don't do your share, and those carrying the load will tire and quit.
It just doesn't get any plainer than that.
Posted by: David R. Remer | November 6, 2006 1:41 PM
True.
I never thought of it that way.
We can't all ride in the wagon.
Someone has to push too.
Posted by: d.a.n | November 6, 2006 6:05 PM
Some day, I'd like to meet some of our like-minded members and supporters.
Hopefully, that will happen some day.
Posted by: d.a.n | November 6, 2006 6:06 PM
A VOID picnic may be in order one of these summers. Perhaps, this next!
Posted by: David R. Remer | November 7, 2006 3:06 AM
Given how many incumbents got the boot last night and the dozens more who got a legit scare, I think a party is in order or at least a cyber one.
Posted by: Zebster | November 8, 2006 7:17 AM