Subject to Recall

I have to be consistent.  When California recalled Governor Gray Davis and replaced him with a movie star, I though it was one of the stupidest things I'd seen in politics.  It's true that the Gov. Davis was not the most charismatic politician, and that California had suffered some crippling electricity blackouts, and were dealing with increasing energy costs.  But Gov. Davis had done nothing criminal and had been duly elected by the residents of the state.

Setting aside the fact that the energy problems in his state had more to do with the unprincipled mega-corporation Enron, and that his corporatist replacement had held secret meetings with Enron before the election, I am queasy about the whole concept of recall.  Elections should have consequences, and people need to know it matters who you vote for.  The remedy would come at the next election.

Otherwise, in my opinion, chaos reigns.  In many states, the threshold is sset so repeated objections could be made.  Conservative and don't like the direction of the liberal Governor?  Recall 'em!  Liberal with a conservative Governor?  Recall 'em!  A moderate who found themselves accidentally (or uninformedly) voting for an extremist?  Recall 'em!

Which brings us to Scott Walker.  Like much of the Midwest, voters failed to absorb the extreme element of the Republican platform.  Wisconsin, the birthplace of progressivism, is losing public unions.  Indiana is becoming a right-to-work (an Orwellian phrase for the elimination of worker's rights and a lowering of their pay).  Michigan is taking over local governments and replacing with state-controlled dictators (Look, Ma!  - It's the tsars that Glenn Beck was always going on about!).  All the Republican controlled states are taking massive cuts in poverty programs, in education, in state jobs.

This is all horrible, but the solution is not recalls.  Wisconsin has spent considerable energy in trying to recall Scott Walker.  It is the most massive, publicly supported movement in modern times.  I sympathize greatly with their sentiments.  Gov. Walker is an out of control extremist who is dismantling the state of Wisconsin to benefit his corporatist buddies and the very wealthy.  But Wisconsin, YOU ELECTED HIM.  If you recall him, and are successful in getting him out, what is to stop the other side from attacking a progressive Governor?  When will it end?

Now that they are in a recall, we are seeing one of the oldest battles in politics played out.  And a battle that has been completely unshackled by Citizens United.  What is more powerful in politics?  Unlimited money form corporate interests and billionaire buddies?  Or the boots on the ground and local retail politics that the other side is bringing to bear?  So far, polling indicates the answer is...MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!! Good lord, the man has said he's trying to divide and conquer the Wisconsin people, eventually destroying ALL unions in Wisconsin, and the majority of Wisconsinites are not absorbing it. All this effort may be for naught, and a destructive buffoon will be replaced by a right wing hero and new media darling.

Elections have consequences.  Vote on a regular basis, and pay attention.  Every progressive in the country should concentrate their message on this - "See, I told you what was going to happen.  And you didn't listen to me. And now, they're coming for you."