Oliver is exactly right. "It’s the inadequately democratic primary system that has led to the mess we’re in." All of this drama is media-driven "infotainment." The media wanted a Trump/Biden rematch, so told the American people to shut up and sit down because this decision had been made before a single primary vote was cast, even though …
Oliver is exactly right. "It’s the inadequately democratic primary system that has led to the mess we’re in." All of this drama is media-driven "infotainment." The media wanted a Trump/Biden rematch, so told the American people to shut up and sit down because this decision had been made before a single primary vote was cast, even though polls repeatedly indicated that about three-quarters of voters wanted neither rerun candidate.
Our primary system has always been chaotic and stupid, with Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina trying to leapfrog over one another to be first, first, first! When I lived in New Jersey in 2016 Marco Rubio was gone from the ballot by the time it got to me, so I was left with a choice between Cruz and Trump. Here in Texas in 2020, with Ron DeSantis no longer in the running, I was left with a choice between Haley and Trump.
We should have shorter campaigns, not yearlong media extravaganzas, a right-to-work plan for Fox News and msnbc talking heads. (I will remind weary voters that the race for 2028 begins bright and early on November 6, 2024! %-)
We should have a national primary immediately after Labor Day in Election year, One Single Election Day (not a month of "ballot-harvesting"), and then we're done. Everyone walking into the voting booth on both Primary Day and Election Day has the same information going in and we're all there at the same time. If you can't make it that day, well, them's the breaks. Better luck next time. You're not that special.
Our electoral system right now is like the absurdly homely Camel: a Horse designed by a Committee.
I couldn't agree more with these comments. As an Independent voter (one of the 47% or so nationwide) who lives in Pennsylvania, I can't even vote in the primary unless I change my affiliation to one of the two major sclerotic, dysfunctional parties. There is nothing "democratic" about the primary system especially when you add in "super delegates", you have a real cluster.
Shorter campaigns, open primaries (with rank voting), and voting on a Sunday (like the ROW) would help immensely and while we're fantasizing, how about term limits? We have them for President, why don't we have it for other offices and the SCOTUS (give them 20 years and then be on your way!)
Amen, Chris, on those term limits! Imagine the situation right now, with a president suffering from a degenerative neurological ailment. Congress only began to move when their down ballot chances became threatened. Imagine what our legislature would be like if they only had the country -- and not their re-election prospects -- to think of. They might actually be motivated to do the right thing.
The Founders, geniuses that they were, couldn't imagine anyone wanting to spend more than two years or six years in the swamp that is D.C. (literally as well as figuratively), which is why they didn't build in term limits. They couldn't anticipate that these people would so feather their nests with perks, swanky offices, hot and cold running staff, allowances for everything, making four times the median salary in the country.
Within just a few months most of them become creatures of Washington and have more in common with their fellow martinets than they do with anyone back home, the great unwashed.
Oliver is exactly right. "It’s the inadequately democratic primary system that has led to the mess we’re in." All of this drama is media-driven "infotainment." The media wanted a Trump/Biden rematch, so told the American people to shut up and sit down because this decision had been made before a single primary vote was cast, even though polls repeatedly indicated that about three-quarters of voters wanted neither rerun candidate.
Our primary system has always been chaotic and stupid, with Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina trying to leapfrog over one another to be first, first, first! When I lived in New Jersey in 2016 Marco Rubio was gone from the ballot by the time it got to me, so I was left with a choice between Cruz and Trump. Here in Texas in 2020, with Ron DeSantis no longer in the running, I was left with a choice between Haley and Trump.
We should have shorter campaigns, not yearlong media extravaganzas, a right-to-work plan for Fox News and msnbc talking heads. (I will remind weary voters that the race for 2028 begins bright and early on November 6, 2024! %-)
We should have a national primary immediately after Labor Day in Election year, One Single Election Day (not a month of "ballot-harvesting"), and then we're done. Everyone walking into the voting booth on both Primary Day and Election Day has the same information going in and we're all there at the same time. If you can't make it that day, well, them's the breaks. Better luck next time. You're not that special.
Our electoral system right now is like the absurdly homely Camel: a Horse designed by a Committee.
I couldn't agree more with these comments. As an Independent voter (one of the 47% or so nationwide) who lives in Pennsylvania, I can't even vote in the primary unless I change my affiliation to one of the two major sclerotic, dysfunctional parties. There is nothing "democratic" about the primary system especially when you add in "super delegates", you have a real cluster.
Shorter campaigns, open primaries (with rank voting), and voting on a Sunday (like the ROW) would help immensely and while we're fantasizing, how about term limits? We have them for President, why don't we have it for other offices and the SCOTUS (give them 20 years and then be on your way!)
Amen, Chris, on those term limits! Imagine the situation right now, with a president suffering from a degenerative neurological ailment. Congress only began to move when their down ballot chances became threatened. Imagine what our legislature would be like if they only had the country -- and not their re-election prospects -- to think of. They might actually be motivated to do the right thing.
The Founders, geniuses that they were, couldn't imagine anyone wanting to spend more than two years or six years in the swamp that is D.C. (literally as well as figuratively), which is why they didn't build in term limits. They couldn't anticipate that these people would so feather their nests with perks, swanky offices, hot and cold running staff, allowances for everything, making four times the median salary in the country.
Within just a few months most of them become creatures of Washington and have more in common with their fellow martinets than they do with anyone back home, the great unwashed.
We have to flush them out. %-)