General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The imminent backlash of the Democratic Left. [View all]fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)I have no illusions that the road away from the current form of state primaries will not be hard. But I think its logical.
Learning from California
RUSSELL SADLER
[link:http://www.blueoregon.com/2006/09/learning_from_c/|
http://www.blueoregon.com/2006/09/learning_from_c/
The party primary was an Oregon innovation, passed by initiative in 1904, at a time when the two political parties were controlled by party bosses who determinedly ignored the problems of everyday life. The idea was to give rank and file voters in those parties the ability to nominate their own candidates. It worked as long as party candidates were attractive enough to win the crossover vote needed to win office.
That system has lost its utility as Republicans and Democrats represent smaller percentages of the whole electorate. The solution is not a third party. The election laws -- written by Republicans and Democrats -- are deliberately rigged against third parties and independents as Ben Westlunds unsuccessful run demonstrates. The first step toward election reform is elimination of the primaries and one all-comers race in the fall where all voters have a real choice.