Letters to the Editor
djmagaro
Published Letters: 79 Editor's Choice: 2
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Open Primaries...
[Read the article: Republicans key to Indiana primary?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I used to think that open primaries were good way to enfranchise independents and possibly bring them into your party, but the flaw is that such only happens if people are voting in good faith (i.e. voting for someone they actually want to see in office).
In today's political culture where I see almost ZERO good faith, open primaries are merely an invitation for the likes of Limbaugh to monkey-wrench the opposing party. (And lest anyone think Democratic hands are clean, in Michigan, know this: Not a few Democrats voted in the Republican primary for similar reasons. I think they trended toward McCain with the assumption that his nomination would keep the Republican base at home come the general election.)
Bad faith voting makes a mockery of democracy, and is ultimately a zero-sum game where all parties end up with flawed candidates who, at best, are unable to energize the party faithful - and who, at worst, antagonize them.
Political parties are private organizations, and open primary laws force them to allow outsiders to choose their candidates (which seems like a 1st amendment violation of the Free Association clause to me). It's like forcing Coke to give Pepsi a vote at the board meetings.
If one wants to be an independent voter, which is one's perfect right, then one shouldn't expect to have a say in selected any party's candidate. If you want a say in who the nominates, join up.
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re: Yellow Dog, Zandru
[Read the article: Republicans key to Indiana primary?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You bring up a good point. Letting anyone and everyone into your party without review - while a good way to swell your ranks - is also an invitation for monkey-wrenchers, saboteurs, and agents-provocateur - not to mention idiots, morons, dunces, and assholes.
Maybe the Democrats need to do some gatekeeping.
To join the Socialist Party-USA you have to complete an application (which the party reviews and approves or rejects), aver agreement with the party platform, and most importantly, pay annual dues. (And since they're socialists believe "from each according to his means," so students, elderly, and the unemployed pay less than working adults.)
I think that annual dues might be the best way to keep Republicans from registering as Democrats. If they don't draw the line at sacrificing their honesty and integrity by signing false affidavits (as they did in Ohio), maybe they will draw the line at sacrificing their wallets.
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Has Clinton explained...
[Read the article: Obama ad hits Clinton on gas tax again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]how we'll maintain our infrastructure w/o that revenue?
Or how we'll make up the economic losses resulting from failing infrastructure?
Or how lowering the price won't increase demand, thereby raising the price again?
Or how the usually summer-time increase in demand for gasoline won't complicate the latter effect?
Or if she thinks these aren't real or likley issues to be addressed, has she explained how the majority opinion of economists is wrong about the likely consequences of a tax "holiday"?
I ask these questions in earnest b/c I haven't found any such explanations in the news reports I've heard and read, so I'm wondering if she's addressed these concerns in recent speeches and statements and maybe they were simply "glossed out" in the coverage.
As for the claim that those of us are elitist who think a savings of a few hundred dollars isn't worth it, I assure assure you that I, at least, could certainly use a few hundred extra dollars. But I need drivable roads more. We all do - even the Amish and the Hutterites.
It's why we pay the gas tax in the first place.
Unless McCain or Clinton can answer my questions on this issue, I'm gonna gave side with Obama. And Pelosi. And the economists.
And Bush. [shudders]
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Re: HP
[Read the article: Republicans key to Indiana primary?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How is paying dues un-American? Seriously.
People pay dues to private organizations all the time - Rotary, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, Sons of Italy, SEIU, UAW, OTO, Esoteric Order of Dagon, Church of the SubGenius (eternal salvation or triple your money back), the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the Constitution Party, the Labor Party - hell, even the Libertarians charge dues!
This not charging dues thing may bring you quantity, but not quality. [Shit, a few registered-Democrat friends of mine didn't even KNOW they could vote in the primaries, that's how disengaged and blase they are about it being Democrats. To them, being a Democrat means checking the box when they register and MAYBE voting for a Democrat in the general election - if they vote at all.]
Forking over $20 or $30 bucks to join up might make you think about what you're joining and why.