white male consumer

Anyone following this year’s primary season can recognize its shortcomings. Front-loading, voting regulations that vary widely from state to state, states not even receiving delegates, political fatigue, the value of campaign contributions, and the rush to judgement as poll numbers change. Popular opinion and voting outcomes are affected as polling numbers are released: this is ass-backwards.

I’ve always been an advocate of electoral reform in all shapes and sizes, and reforming the primary season is a critical first step in reshaping the way in which government officials are elected. By fixing the primary season, we can reduce the importance of campaign contributions, create an informed and motivated electorate, and get politicians who’re worth voting for.

At the 2000 Republican National Convention, the Delaware Plan (one proposed alternative) was cock-blocked by Karl Rove. Today, the similar American Plan garners much interest as being a fair and functional alternative to the current madness. The order in which states vote is random, with smaller states weighted to vote earlier in the season. This allows more candidates more time to be competitive, with a de-emphasis on money and more importance placed on grassroots politicking.

For a longer read, see John Nichols’ piece in the January 22nd issue of The Nation. For more information on the American Plan or other proposed alternatives, see Fix The Primaries, a bipartisan coalition seeking a saner primary season.