Reply #22: Some better solutions:

[meldroc]

Yes, I agree that it isn't fair that Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada get first pick. But yeah, there is the funding issues mentioned - it's easier for a less-well-funded candidate to get some traction on the money-monsters the way it's currently done. Here are a couple fixes:

1. Random rotation of order of primaries. Bias so small states are more likely to go first. That way, one state, or a few states don't get the monopoly for every election. It might be New Hampshire one election, then Colorado the next election.

2. Keep the order as it is today, but keep all election results secret until the party's national conventions. That way, candidates still get the chance to do small-scale low-cost campaigning, but nobody knows who won until every state's primaries are finished. Enforce with huge fines, jail time, maybe even threatening to bar states from being able to send delegates to the convention if their primary results are leaked early. Make sure the media is also required to keep the results secret, including results of exit polls and such.