[EM] Conceiving a Democratic Electoral Process

[Dave Ketchum]

On Jul 10, 2012, at 3:49 PM, Fred Gohlke wrote:

> Good Afternoon, Dave
>
> re: "I would not do away with primaries - instead I would do away
>     with Plurality and leave primaries to any party that still
>     saw value in them."
>
> I believe the discussion was more about opening primaries to the  
> public than to eliminating them.

True, but I suggest looking a little deeper.

Clones are a problem for Plurality, and primaries were invented to  
dispose of clones within a party - still leaves us with such as  
multiple parties nominating clones.  These are not Plurality's only  
problem, so looking for better election methods is still worth doing.

Anyway, I do not argue against primaries for anyone who sees other  
value in them.
>
> re: "I see value in parties - Green, libertarians, socialism,
>     etc., let voters with particular desires work together."
>
> Absolutely, but there must also be a way for those who don't  
> subscribe to any party to participate in the electoral process.   
> They have no voice at present, and that's the rub.

Could say that if they have no voice they have no need of anyone to  
speak to.

If there is an idea worth speaking about and no party is interested,  
its backers could form a party.
>
> Fred