Recall Members of Congress? Time for a Political Sea-change?

Whether it be the assault on our Capitol on Jan 6th, or it’s inability to protect us from the repetitive tragedy of each mass shooting, it's obvious right now that the U.S. political system is incompetent, dysfunctional and broken. Our elected representatives in Congress are acting more like football players trying to win the Superbowl than taking care of our country's business. If it were possible, would you want to recall them all and restructure this system?

Whether we lean left or lean right, it's frustrating to watch the incompetence of our current Senators and House Representatives as they fall into party lines and take a rigid stance not to compromise with one another. Whether the topic is health care, climate change, gun safety, or raising the debt limit, it seems all we hear are excuses, paired with finger pointing.

Since we, as citizens of the United States, have the right to elect the politicians that represent us, shouldn't there be a mechanism whereby we can recall them before the next election as well? Or maybe it's time to do away with career politicians and limit their stint to one to two terms? Maybe our two party system should be abolished so that each candidate is elected based on his own merits and allowed to vote without party pressure.

While we might nod yes to one or all of these ideas, how feasible would it be to make any change, when the very people who could usher in reform, are the people who might be affected? Quite a dilemma, isn't it?

Whether we are a Democrat, Republican, or Independant voter, I would hope we all long for the same thing in regard to our elected officials. Don't we all:

• Wish that politicians at every level considered our welfare more and the special interest groups less?
• Wish that party lines would become blurred enough that each politician with a vote, would cast that vote in a manner that helped the American people on the whole, instead of just supporting their party's platform?
• Feel starved for more honesty, intelligence and logic working in our government and less theatrics, BS and political posturing?

We the People go to the polls and elect our officials. The taxes withheld out of our paychecks help to pay their salaries (Annual salary for a rank and file member of Congress in 2023 was $174,000) and all we expect is for them to get things done and keep the government wheels turning.

But in today's political environment, what seems to happen after we elect them? Many of the politicians celebrate their political victories after taking office by waving political banners and planting their cleats on their party's fifty-yard line. They slip on a red or blue jersey and then devote their term in office to fighting for their party's cause, instead of what is best for the people who elected them. To make a bad situation worse, lobbyists are then allowed to waltz in with fists full of cash to sway their judgement on the job and muddy the waters of the Potomac.

None of us would be hired based on a false resume, or be uncooperative and unproductive on the job, and stay employed! This same principle should apply to our politicians; They should not be able to remain on the job if they lied about their qualifications. They need to work to get things done from day one. They should not be given a full term to wile away the time.

If they play political games instead of working to accomplish things, they should be recalled. Why should we pay precious tax money for a full term to politicians who fight amongst themselves, give into pressure from lobbyists and or ex-presidents to basically get nothing done? If any business was run in this manner, their doors would be closed in record time.

Right now, recall elections are not allowed at the Federal level. A majority of states allow recall elections for local jurisdictions, and eighteen states permit removing state officials via recall, with one state (Illinois) limiting that recall to the Gubernatorial position only.

I think it's time to consider some amendments to our constitution and political system. How about we:

• Demand that Congress pass an amendment to allow recall at the federal level. If any elected official is not governing in a manner that is beneficial for his community, doesn't it make sense to recall him before things are run into the ditch? If a Congressman supports his party or lobbyist more than the interests of his constituents, shouldn't he be removed from congress before his term is up?
• If the two party system isn't working, why not do away with it? No more red or blue jerseys, just red, white, and blue ones
• Why don't we limit a congressman to no more than two terms like we do our President?
• If lobbyists have gained more control over our politicians than we have as voters, why don't we make their influence illegal and render their bribe-money worthless?

We have lots of problems in this country that need solutions. If you agree that we need a sea-change in our political system, and that every American should have more control over their Congressman, please add your comments. Do you think we should be able to petition for a recall election of our Congressman? What do you think about limiting a Senator or Member of the House to two terms?

If you’d like to stay abreast of some of the new ideas floated to solve issues we face today, sign up to receive updates made to the FixGov blog on the Bookings Institute‘s website. Stay informed, keep an open mind, and speak up. It is our job as citizens of this wonderful country and participants in this experiment we call democracy to do so.