(Host) Commentator Madeleine Kunin reflects on democracy and the California recall.
(Kunin) The recall election in California forces us to pose a question: what is wrong with representative democracy? Have we so frustrated and irritated the voters that all they can do is throw the bums out, not at election time, but anytime they feel like it?
There is no doubt that the California system was designed as an impatient alternative to elections which in most states occur every four years. Recalls speed up the time table for change.
At first glance it may sound like a good idea. Keep the politicians on their toes. We, the voters will decide, and if you don’t listen to us, you’re out. It seems like a cleansing action, wiping the slate clean.
But is a recall really clean politics versus dirty politics? The big bad influence of money in politics is still there in full view. It should not be surprising that a the little known Republican Congressman who started the petition drive for the recall movement in California is a multi millionaire who could pay people to collect some of the 900,000 required signatures.
Now that there are 135 candidates for Governor, it is those who are well known and can raise big bucks, like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ariana Huffiington, who get the spotlight. Some observers have concluded that the news from California is not all bad, at least people are getting informed about the budget and other issues. Others see it as more of a joke, and that’s bad for democracy.
Like it or not, Democracy needs serious attention and an informed citizenry to thrive. And politicians, like it or not, need to be able to make tough and controversial decisions.
If the threat of recall is constantly hanging over their heads, they will loose the little courage they now have. Instead of improving democracy, it will weaken it further. That doesn’t mean that the present system is working well and that the California voters are wrong.
The recall is sending a message. Elected officials need to be more responsive to their constituents , deal with the problems that matter to the voters. Over the last 30 years, Democratic and Republican party registration has severely declined. Young people and immigrants are particularly disenchanted about voting as evidenced by their low participation.
The California recall is the wrong fix for declining faith in government. But we must find the right fix-by convincing voters that they have the power to create change if they participate in the process.
Madeleine Kunin is a former Governor of Vermont.