At this time only about 30 states have some form of open primaries. With the number of independent voters at around 40%, there is a large voice with no place to go to have their say in the 2008 elections.
After Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s first election, he went forward with his pledge to the independents to try to get open primaries in New York City. We lost with 30% of the vote after the two parties panicked and made a major effort to cloud the issue.
If Mayor Bloomberg does not make a run for President, independents need to convince him to take up the open primary issue nationwide. We will have the grassroots numbers and with his name and ability to fund this issue, there is a chance we can begin to address the ability for our VOICE to be heard and our candidates to LISTEN.
What do you think is the best way for your VOICE to be heard?
Michael H. Drucker
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1 comment:
Moving here from a state with an open primary, I was not aware that the NY primary was closed until it was too late. Apparently you must register in one party or another at least 25 days previous.
So, registered as an independent, I was essentially not allowed the fundamental right of any citizen in a Democracy. The fact that this has already come up and has been stamped out further irritates me, especially since no one I've spoken to can give me a rational reason why the primary is closed.
The only somewhat cogent argument I have heard is that they don't want someone from the other party coming in to skew the vote. But this logic is fallible.
First of all, when one votes in the primary of the opposite party, one is also NOT voting for the candidate one wishes to win. Thus, compromising your candidates chances. So, the number of people who might actually try to skew a vote would be negligible and besides, there are far more elegant and effective ways of going about such a thing.
Secondly, this could be remedied by simply allowing only registered independents to vote in either primary. One who is registered as a Democrat or Republican could only vote in their respective primaries. Now, it takes no genius to conjure up such an idea. It seems to me that the only reason they might want to continue such an archaic and anachronistic practice is to force people to stick with one ideology and one party.
I for one refuse to be herded into choosing between one limited pin and another, as I'm sure you agree.
I will not marry some shifting, imprecise, and monolithic dogma to the detriment of objective analysis.
So, the question is, what can we do? - Somehow make this a big media event?
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