The protests following the 2016 Presidential Election express the frustration of many with the outcome, and various decisions in the early weeks of the new administration. But I worry that the electorate might forget the central role that the broken primary systems played in the election. The primaries of both parties (all parties) failed to … Continue reading Protest Anything, but Reform the US Primaries
primaries
This is the United STATES of America: The Primaries are the Problem!
In the aftermath of the 2016 Presidential elections, the shock of Donald Trump’s surprising win has generated a flurry of initiatives to turn back the clock and rerun or overturn the election, such as Jill Stein’s failed attempt to recount the ballots in a number of key states. The most worrisome efforts – to me … Continue reading This is the United STATES of America: The Primaries are the Problem!
Democratizing Primary Elections in the USA
Will party primary reforms ever happen? In the heat of the contests between the candidates within the Republic and Democratic Party primaries, media commentators and political party officials have been unable to see the public's concerns over the processes in place within both parties. This is a real issue that is likely to come back … Continue reading Democratizing Primary Elections in the USA
The Rules of Real World Games & the RNC
There is a debate underway in the Republican Party (the RNC) on the rules governing the primary elections and caucuses and their translation of their results into delegates to the party’s convention. One side argues that the rules are unfair, in that the popular vote is not being mapped proportionately into the delegate selection process, … Continue reading The Rules of Real World Games & the RNC
O! Heavens! Bernie is consistent? He has a big idea, and that is revolutionary!
Jason Horowitz’s has an article in today's NYTs about Senator Bernie Sanders, entitled ‘Over Decades, Sanders Has Stayed on Message’. Staying on message is generally perceived to be a virtue in political campaigns, but somehow, in this election; Senator Sanders is frequently criticized for sticking to his message for too long, and across too many … Continue reading O! Heavens! Bernie is consistent? He has a big idea, and that is revolutionary!