THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE RECALL

Recalls were held in 17 states, in 73 separate jurisdictions.
• The state with most was Michigan, with at least 30 recalls.
• 30 mayors faced recalls.
• 17 recalls were school boards.
• 11 were state legislators (by far the record -- the previous high was 3 in one year).
• 52 were city council members.
• One local prosecutor, York, Nebraska County Attorney, faced a recall.
• 34 jurisdictions held recalls on multiple days.
• Three jurisdictions adopted the recall

I got these statistics from an article in the Huffington Post called the Recall Blog, stating that recalls totaled in 2011 150, which is a pretty hefty number.

What is the significance of this number? First, it set a record---and the expectation is for this high trend to continue in 2012. Second, and most important, I think it indicates the sorry state of politics currently in America.

Politics is not attracting the high-caliber people needed but is appealing to many fast-buck glib types looking for an easy con and quick buck. If you make the right noises, playing to the crowd, you can create the illusion of “I have what this country needs”---only, most of the time, it isn’t. So many special interests have infested the political scene that it is hard to determine what and who is right. Washington has gained a reputation as a special club where influence, money and power make a potent cocktail. I’m afraid it’s true at the state and local levels, as well, but not so noticeably. The parasites and grubbers multiply in this kind of environment.

I would be happier if recall meant remembering our past glory and hoping for more in the future.