No More Incumbents Blog

Shane points out below that campaign donorsget Politicians to vote their way because of the contributions provided.  I think Shane is correct.  I think politicians use the defense that they are attracting like minded contributors, but the truth is that the politicians tend to bend which ever way the money breeze blows.

By the way, I received Shane’s note late at night.  Just for the record an incumbent is a term given to describe the person that is currently holding office.

1. If everything else were the same about 2 candidates, would you vote for an incumbent or a new candidate?
Hmm, well it would be impossible for 2 candidates to be the same if one was an incumbent, as he/she would have no experience in the position, while the current office holder would have some experience.  While experience is important, I do think the incumbent would be the best bet.

2. Why?
they are more likely to have fresh ideas, and probably less corrupted by the system.

3. Do you think that politicians become more corrupt as they stay in office or Washington longer?
yes

4. Why?
Unfortunately the system is built so that you need money to continue to win elections (advertising) and to get that money, you must get in bed with one group or another.  Now your vote is not your own, because you must vote their way, or fear losing campaign money.  Horrible system.

5. What State and Country do you live in?
NY, USA

6. What is your first name and last inital?
Shane M.

7. Do you have a blog and if so what is your url?
yes, www.dontfearthetruth.com

Patrick from Pennsylvania writes that cleaning Incumbents out of the house is an excellent idea.  He makes an excellent point that if you think things are going poorly then we need to fire our leaders.  That’s exactly what would happen to Patrick and every other American that didn’t get the job done and shouln’t be any different for Incumbents.  If you don’t think so, try doing a bad job for 2-6 years, and when your boss comes to tell you that you are doing a bad job and that you will be fired, just try explaining that you should be given another chance and 2-6 more years to fix things up as there ‘is still more work to do’ and you want to ’stay the course.’

Not too likely to work is it? 

Excluding any current Incumbents reading my blog as their boss is the American people and we the people have ceded our firing responsibility for too long.  Its not easy to fire an employee that is doing a bad job.  It make it no easier that our Incumbent Employees are doing a terrible job.  We need to move past that soft spot in our hearts, the one that wants to pet kittens and fire Incumbents that are doing poorly and hire a new person to get the job done!.

1. If everything else were the same about 2 candidates, would you vote for an incumbent or a new candidate?

I have and will continue to vote for new candidates as often as needed.

2. Why?

Take a look around, and if one likes how things are going then the guys who are supposed to be our leaders are doing a good job. If it’s not going good, then we need to fire them. That’s what would happen to me in my job.

3. Do you think that politicians become more corrupt as they stay in office or Washington longer?

I believe that there is little hope for anyone to maintain any sense of integrity or get things done in the current political arena these days.

4. Why?

Anyone who really wants to serve the people either doesn’t last or gets corrupted over time in our current system. That’s why it is an excellent idea to totally clean house from time to time and be ever vigilant in keeping track of what our elected officials are doing. Let them know they are being watched - ALL THE TIME. If everyone just wrote a few letters and made telephone calls to all their politicians then we wouldn’t have half the troubles we do today. When was the last time you called your Senator or Representative?

5. What State and Country do you live in?

Pennsylvania, Blair County, USA

6. What is your first name and last inital?

Patrick Nottingham - feel free to publish the whole thing. I fear not.

7. Do you have a blog and if so what is your url?
Yes!
High Strangeness Altoona
http://www.castlenottingham.com

Meredith writes to us from Virginia and says that she would vote for an incumbent as they are better known and demonstrated how they will handle issues since they have served.

This strikes me as one of the most popular reasons why people vote for incumbents.  They opt for the devil they know as opposed to the devil they don’t know.  It also precludes anyone that is not a Washington insider from ever getting into office.  This also creates situations where senators and congressmen (sometimes to the exclusion of congress women)  get vote in and never get voted out.

Meredith does also indicate that they may not get corrupt the longer they stay but they do lose touch.  The average American has to worry about losing their job to productivity, cost cuts, outsourcing, new technology and more every day.  Its very rare when a person can take a job and expect not only to stay with the company but keep doing that same job for 12 or 18 or 30 years, but that is what happens in Washington.  Its not hard to understand politicians distance from the rest of Americans as politicians have something that almost no other American has,  Incumbents have Job Security!

1. If everything else were the same about 2 candidates, would you vote for an incumbent or a new candidate?
I would prefer to vote for an incumbent.

2. Why?
An incumbent’s track record as an actual serving person in office is better known.  With a new candidate, they might have expressed how they will handle certain issues, but how they would actually perform in office, once they have more power, is unknown.

3. Do you think that politicians become more corrupt as they stay in office or Washington longer?
Not necessarily more corrupt, but more jaded and insensitive.

4. Why?
Someone who has been in office for a long time may feel like they’re doing drudge work rather than taking important actions on the behalf of their constituents.  Because of this they may grow more out of touch with what the constituents really want, and will make decisions based on personal history and their own beliefs rather than really getting in touch with their people.

5. What State and Country do you live in?
Virginia, USA

6. What is your first name and last inital?
Meredith P.

7. Do you have a blog and if so what is your url?
Yes!  http://journal.amanita.net/

Andrew writes to us from Maine and says that he wants to see fewer professional politicians as Incumbents. I can’t agree more myself. Experience is definitely good, but that does not need to come from spending 30 years in the same job receiving special interest money on two sides of an issue.

1. If everything else were the same about 2 candidates, would you vote for an incumbent or a new candidate?

The new candidate probably.

2. Why?

Because there is too much incumbancy in American politics.Too many are merely politicians and have little or no connection with the real world. The fewer professional politicians the better methinks.

3. Do you think that politicians become more corrupt as they stay in office or Washington longer?

Not necessarily no,

4. Why?

I number sitting members and staff as my friends, but I think there is the temptation to lose touch with both one’s constituents and the world at large. You can be sucked in the world of politics and it skews everything in your life. (Been there done that in UK politics.)

5. What State and Country do you live in?

Maine, USA & Enfield UK

6. What is your first name and last inital?

Andrew Ian Dodge (use my whole name)

7. Do you have a blog and if so what is your url?

Dodgeblogium (www.andrewiandodge.com)