Democracy in action?

Unless those of you who live in the U.S. have taken up residence in a cave complex, you probably know there's a gubernatorial recall election going on in Wisconsin today.

I've had very mixed feelings about it.

Mahlon Mitchell, running against the despicable lieutenant governor, Rebecca Kleefisch 
On the one hand, I've never voted for a Republican in my life, which means I'm not exactly a huge fan of fatcat-backed Scott Walker, who's now in office. And I very much like and respect Democrat Tom Barrett, Milwaukee's mayor. He's a decent, intelligent man, loaded with integrity. (This caring guy even got himself seriously injured when he intervened during a purse-snatching incident.)

BUT . . . Walker was elected fair and square, and hasn't committed any malfeasance (that I know of). Should millions of tax dollars be spent on a recall election simply because one small portion of the electorate is disaffected with the incumbent? Somehow, this doesn't feel right.

Public employees' unions, which initiated the recall, have been pissing a lot of people off. They trashed the state capitol building during their protests. Would've been nice if they'd cleaned up after themselves, but they didn't. Taxpayers had to foot the bill. They've also evinced a sense of entitlement that workers in the private sector -- who generally earn far less and must get by with minimal-to-no benefits and pension plans -- find disgusting. (I, for one, have seen firsthand the dismal results of the state's public education system, so I have precious little sympathy for teachers who are being handsomely rewarded for their ineptitude.)

My gubernatorial vote remains undecided.

HOWEVER . . . this election also gives voters the chance to split their tickets and remove a far more odious politician from office: the lieutenant governor, Rebecca "good Christian woman" Kleefisch. She's a reactionary, anti-gay-rights, anti-women's-rights nitwit reincarnation of Joe McCarthy, as much an embarrassment to Wisconsin as Palin was to Alaska, and my X will go into her opponent's box as fast as my hand can move. (There are no voting machines in my township, so yes, we must mark paper ballots.) Call me a hypocrite, but I don't have a single qualm about giving her the boot. I hate the bitch and everything she stands for. No religion-driven ideologue is fit to hold public office. That's my bottom line.

So, playing out today in my corner of the world is a perfect, and perfectly crazy, example of democracy in action -- complete with personal agendas, special interests, virulent prejudices, and lofty ideals.

Which reminds me: I have to get my Common Sense Party up and running pretty soon. ;-)