Some Hoosiers are apparently watching the political turmoil in Wisconsin and starting to get ideas:
Recalling underperforming lawmakers is possible in many states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and California, and was instituted during the Progressive Era early in the 20th century, 6News' Norman Cox reported.
However, those reforms were never added to Indiana's constitution, but some Hoosiers hope that could soon change.
This is one of those Progressive Era reforms -- another is the use of citizen ballot initiatives -- that sound good but create more problems than they solve. Our system was meant to be republican, not democratic, with representative government used as the tool to keep popular whim from ruling. If we can try to yank our elected officials out every time we dislike something they did, that gives "the people" more power than they were intended to have. And if those officials have to drop everything to fight off recall votes, they're going to have even less time to do the things the angry voters think they should be doing.
We already have the ability to recall officials. Letting state representatives stay in for two years and senators for four might seem like a very long time if you're not happy with someone. But that also gives voters time to reflect on the officials' performance instead of acting on their immediate anger.
