Opinion: Political primaries are a waste of time
To the community,
The party primaries that select candidates for the presidency of the USA are harmful and destructive because they destroy party discipline. Ideally political parties cut and debate important national issues. It’s the job of parties by discussion and debate to educate citizens by defining the terms on a given subject. Without clear definitions, there cannot be meaningful discourse.
Presently no major party provides clear, concise language on important issues such as national health care, war, national security, etc. The parties drift into meaningless verbal chaos. They throw around words such as liberal and conservative, words that the political culture is lost for definitions. The country doesn’t have parties that teach the discourse. We have factions that divide the nation. There is no agreement on what is the national purpose.
Also, party primaries damage the political process because candidates must raise and spend fortunes to compete. The money is spent on a process that produces nothing but empty advertising that reduces the language to slogans and ripe baloney. Wealth is wasted, language is destroyed.
Before there were political party primaries, H.L. Mencken covered many party conventions that selected candidates for the presidency. He reported for the Baltimore Sun. His articles were collected in a book, “A Carnival of Buncombe”. Mencken was a severe critic of the idiocy that he witnessed in American politics. We have changed the method of selecting candidates, but the idiocy is intact. But because big money talks there is no chance there’ll be meaningful reform today or tomorrow.
Bill Crawford, South Lake Tahoe
PS: We can’t solve problems at home. So phony wars’ diversion controls the throne.
The American electorate gets exactly what they ask for! A political process that plays to the lowest common denominator!
So, Mr. Crawford, do you have a better idea?
He never has a better idea, he just cruises by and throws firebombs and criticism. The world needs provocateurs, too.
I agree Bill, Look at all the money wasted on false promises.
The Elephant Pink this year!
Abortion,Porn,Contraception,Racial, have all bubbled to the Top,about the only thing they haven’t mention in the election is the Gay’s right to freedom of choice with health care.
NICE TO BE ON SATELLIGHT CAUSE YOU GET STATION WITHOUT THE COMMERCALS.THE BS GETS DEEPER ALL THE TIME.
Bill you have to rethink! Isn’t it rich,
Mitt & Rich are a pair, Mitt on the ground, Rich still in mid air,Newt’S the one who keeps tearing around, don’t you love a farce,but where are the Clowns ? Send in the Clowns,what a surprise
don’t bother! THE CLOWNS ARE HERE
Yes, Alex, the clowns are here. In the White House and the Senate.
“When you put the clowns in charge, don’t be surprised when a circus breaks out.”
Hang Ups ??
What satellight, cause you get station without commercials?? whodat told em dat.
Kae how dat git there ?????