American’s have tremendously short memories. Usually an issue or event will occur, stir up people for a few days or weeks, and slowly fade into oblivion as it is replaced by the next issue. We are seemingly incapable of focusing on more than one topic at a time. Example: remember the Arizona congresswoman that was shot by that psychopath in January? No one seems to care about that anymore. Another? Remember the BP oil spill last year? No one seems too concerned (for a variety of reasons no doubt) that we are now giving out licenses for deep water drilling again (not to mention the companies doing so are using emergency plans dated before the previous spill, showing nothing was learned). Either we lack the ability to focus or the issues just aren’t important enough to us; however, perhaps the Scott Walker/union-busting issues of 2011 will stick around. I mean, they have so far, right?
Being a fairly liberal person, I don’t support Walker’s plan (I know, you are shocked). Still, I am not sure that democrats are best suited recalling Walker and the republicans in the Wisconsin state government. Let’s even assume democrats have the vote. Is recalling the governor really going to create a BETTER system?
Here is my argument against recalling Walker, and other republicans in one word: precedent. Do any democrats look ahead and think of what might happen once a democratic governor is back in the state capital? Won’t republicans instantly try to recall him/her once the administration tries to pass a liberal bill? If Walker is recalled I fear a precedent will be set that whenever the minority loses the election the recall effort will start, and that simply isn’t how democracy is supposed to work. Like the filibuster (a tool created with good intentions but is completely and utterly misused), recalling political leaders will turn into the new ‘go to’ tool to get your way when it democratically just isn’t your turn.
Instead of spending energy and resources on recalling current political leaders for whom liberals disagree with, perhaps their efforts would be better used figuring out what it exactly is they stand for and creating a consistent message. Perhaps they are better suited moving full speed into the 2012 election, which given the Citizens United ruling and other republicans measures to slant the political landscape, is going to be as tough as any of my lifetime.
I want Walker and his cronies out of office just as much as anyone. I just don’t want to start the pattern of a constant series of recalls. Our politicians already spend WAY too much time campaigning for their next election and not enough time tackling the problems they were elected to figure out. So unless democrats vow they won’t try to recall republicans leaders for say, 25 years, I say just let this current administration run their course and not waste the political capital.
