Recall systems undermine representative democracy, in which citizens choose elected representatives to take decisions on their behalf. Accountability is ensured by regular elections, but in between these citizens should trust their representatives to exercise their judgement responsibly. Many policies may require unpopular short-term pain (in the form of higher taxes, spending cuts, new laws that restrict personal behaviour, etc), in order to achieve a longer-term benefit. For these reasons it is natural for voters to suffer “buyers’ remorse” but dangerous to allow them to act on it – politicians constantly looking over their shoulders in fear of recall petitions will never dare to undertake necessary but painful reforms. We should only judge representatives on their overall record after several years in power.