We don't have weekly or monthly elections in Illinois for obvious reasons. In between, our preferred method for getting rid of bad apples, as Larry points out, is through a process called impeachment.
But none of this is good enough for the revolutionaries at the Chicago Tribune. They'd rather have a California-style Recall:
Legislators need to give Illinois voters the option of adding to the constitution a way to recall officials in the executive, judicial and legislative branches.
Of course when contemplating recall, we always imagine it'll eliminate the guy we don't like -- rather than the guy we do.
The truth is, recall is profoundly undemocratic. It undermines the ability of democratically elected officials to act effectively. Whenever there's a dip in the polls, those with the wherewithal can mount a challenge. The challenge needn't even be successful (or legitimate) to have effect.
You can imagine who this would be used against -- and by whom. The timing is interesting.
Frankly, I’d rather take my lessons in democracy from some other source than the Editorial Board of the Chicago Tribune.
