Politics: Re: How the Primary system is ruining America

-THE PROBLEM-

Ok, so I've had this idea in my brain for a while now and I just have to get it out.

I have come to the conclusion that the primary system (the way in which our political parties select their candidates) is destroying america.

The problem with the system is inherent in the structure of the system. Seeing as how the United States is, more or less, divided equally among two political ideologies, conservative and liberal, and that to help the conservative(republican) or liberal(democrat) party select a candidate, one must first register with said party and participate in the primary voting.

OK, the issue at hand is that after the country is divided into two separate voting blocs candidates then compete within one bloc to win the right to campaign on behalf of that party in the general election. SO, the winner in the conservative primary is going to be the person who the republicans find is most conservative, and the winner in the democratic primary is going to be the person democrats find the most liberal. -this is due to the fact that turn-out is very low in those primaries and that the only people who go out to vote are the ones most interested in change. e.i. the uber-liberal and the ultra-conservative.

So what we end up with is a general election between a "whimpy liberal" from the north-east, and a "christian conservative" from texas. Now, we as "normal" americans are forced to choose between these two people, neither of whom tend to represent our values in a wide range of areas.

Southpark had it right; it's a choice between a giant douche and a shit sandwich.


SOLUTIONS-

So I propose that we do one of 3 things...

1) we get rid of the primary system all together. let the parties nominate privately who they want to send to the general election. - I believe they will act to send someone who can gain the most support (ie. a moderate) to win the white house time and time again.
2) Ban all red-state republicans and blue-state democrats from running. This will virtually guarantee a moderate dem or repub from a 50/50 state (grey state) or a conservative dem from a red state and/or a liberal repub from a blue-state.
3) publicly finance all campaigns and allow for run-offs in ALL DISTRICS which do not give above 50% majority support to a candidate. This would allow for the removal of much of the business lobby/fundraising responsibilities as well as allow room for third party candidates to make a serious impact on american politics.


Politician need to realize that all we want is POLITICALLY MODERATE LEADERSHIP!!

Alright- I've said my piece. hope to see you back here soon.

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wow, it is now 5-14 and I notice its been a long time since my last post... sorry about that.

Anyway, I figured that I'd add a little something to this last political post as I just read this in the news: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/14/hagel.bloomberg/index.html

In that link, Chuck Hagel and michael bloomberg apparently are contemplating an Independant run for the whitehouse. Notice that I used the capital "I" which means they would each leave the Republican party in order to do this. They apparently believe that the Extreams of each party have taken control of their politics and resulted in many poor decisions.

Well, if they would have just read my post on the subject, or perhaps they did... , they would understand HOW this has happened and maybe they would choose a slightly different path to shake-up the two party system.

I beleive that there is no room for any third party success in this current system. These two guys seem to think that, without any party organization, that they can mount a successful campaign? That is rediculous. But, perhaps there would be room for someone like myself to establish himself high up in the power structure...

interesting thought.