Despite the excitement that surrounded this year's Democratic and Republican primaries, I believe that presidential primaries are detrimental to the American electoral process. Now, you might be wondering as to why I would say such a thing. If you're thinking that, I'm glad and I would be more than happy to explain my reasoning for feeling this way.
The excitement surrounding both the Democratic and Republican primaries swells and comes to a head right before the Iowa caucuses. There are a number of things that I notice around this time; 1) the excitement each candidate carries with them especially among their supporters, 2) how exciting and interesting the debates tend to be, 3) the vast number of different opinions on each debatable topic, 4) how open people are to discussing topics with other interested people regardless of political affiliation, and 5) the lack of political "mudslinging" between the candidates, their campaign staff, the media, and their supporters.
I think that it's an exciting time to see the United States elect the first African American president despite not having voted for him. To be honest, I don't feel that the Democratic or the Republican party represent the "change" that they both constantly remind us about whenever they get a microphone in their face. How can real change come from two political parties that are more stubborn than they are visionary? The truth is, it can't. Wait! Why is this so?
After the primaries are over both of the major party candidates need only to worry about the other candidate. They only need to dodge the attack that comes at them from one general direction. This forces each candidate to merely deny the other parties allegations and repeat over and over again what they have been saying for the last few months or so. The American public has been deprived from real change and the opportunity to experience a truly political revolution. The Democrats and the Republicans are both to blame for the current wretched state of politics in the United States.
People in the United States were excited to see Barack Obama elected President. They wanted change and they feel that change is possible with him as Commander in Chief. However, it's funny how similar Obama's current cabinet appears to be to that of Bill Clinton's from 1992-2000. I want what is best for my country and I feel that the American people have been duped into believing that they have only two choices each and every presidential election.
Let's say, hypothetically, that the United States got rid of its Democratic and Republican primaries. Let's evaluate the positives that this could bring to the American people: 1) choice (so many candidates to choose from), 2) variety of ideas (you'll hear so many different ideas that you'd be forced to listen), 3) lack of negative politics (each of the candidates will have to focus on their political platform and avoid looking unintelligent besides slinging mud at the other candidates), 4) more focus on the issues (forget the candidates religion, habits, etc.), 5) more excitement for a vast number of candidates (people will support their candidate; not the candidate that the party that they most likely vote for supports or nominates), 6) reduce the need for millions and billions of campaign financing that could go towards helping the American people (health insurance, intelligence, schools, etc.), 7) opens the door for anyone to run, regardless of socioeconomic status (if you're smart and understand the political process...there is no reason that you shouldn't run and challenge others to debate the issues with you), 8) forces candidates to argue their position against a number of different potential views on a number of topics (don't like either candidates position? Listen to the other candidates!), 9) allows more important domestic/international news to make the headlines besides those like "Does Race Matter?" and "Mitt Romney and Faith: What is Mormonism?" (the media LOVES gossip and garbage...let them start doing their job by investigative reporting, etc. NO MEDIA ENDORSEMENTS! Hold them to the same tax exemption status as religious figures...let the people decide for themselves), 10) allows the American people to make a decision that isn't affected or driven by useless and numerous polls, annoying/nagging phone calls, and allows them not be over-saturated in political non-sense. Sounds great, doesn't it? However, this will never happen as long as the American people continue to allow themselves to be forced to vote for a candidate that they didn't support at first.
How many people do you know who supported a candidate that didn't get nominated for their party? How exciting is it to vote for someone who you didn't initially support? Why do we continually allow our country and our elected officials to merely see things in black and white? What happens when you mix black and white together? You get grey. You really can't get much else mixing those two colors. What happens when you mix black, white, and any other color? You get something different. You get something brighter. You get change. Real change.
The United States is my home. I love my country and I'm willing to die for it. It aches me to see people swallow their pride in order to vote for a candidate that they didn't initially support and expect to see their country change for the better. Why do we accept that? How have we become so complacent?
Before the Iowa caucus, people can be seen discussing the political platform of their candidate and listening to two other people discuss their candidates positions and possibly, just possibly, hearing a position or view that they never really considered. This different opinion or position intrigues them. What is this? This, my friends, is how change comes about.
"How come my candidate does/doesn't support this?" or, "Why does my candidate feel so strongly about this, but neglects to consider this"? This is what political discussions are supposed to be like. It's supposed to challenge you, to challenge others, to make you think, to make others think, and to allow ourselves and others to hear a variety of different opinions. We used to be able to discuss politics in schools, at church, at the dinner table, and at work. However, because we have allowed ourselves to be pushed into a corner...we have now deprived ourselves of this luxury. A luxury that allows a nation and a people to be progressive and open to new ideas. We have robbed ourselves of these experiences, but there may still be hope for the next generation.
Conclusion: The American presidential primary is detrimental. It forces voters to support candidates that they didn't initially support, allows candidates to just appear electable and not really have a political platform to stand on, and tires the American people out before the actual election. Also, take this into account: a winning candidate receives roughly 49-55% of the total vote, which means that roughly 45-51% of the voters don't like and/or didn't vote for the winner. Primaries also have a history of upsetting people to the point of voting for the other candidate or simply not voting again. This alienates people and creates a huge pool of people who simply "don't care". As the most efficient and functional democracy on the planet, we sure don't have enough of our people voting. A large number of people choose to not vote because they could care less about either of the names on the ballot. People enjoy variety and choices. The American presidential primaries deprive us of this luxury.
My Plan: Get rid of the primaries. Limit campaign funding to only what they can raise from door to door campaigning, online fund raising, etc. We must limit the amount of money that major corporations donate to each candidate. Campaigns should be funded BY THE PEOPLE. If I donate $50 to a candidate and the owner of a major corporation donates thousands upon millions of dollars to that same candidate...who do you think that candidate will listen to more? Exactly my point. Money and financing should still serve somewhat of a purpose, but should not be the guiding force behind a campaign or provide a candidate an upper hand over another simply because they have more money.
What My Plan Will Accomplish: My plan will introduce a new breed of politics to the American people. Politics of change, politics of progress, and politics motivated by the will of the people and not by the amount of money in the candidates campaign account. People will hear new ideas, they will debate with people, they will get their children involved, and they will vote for who they want...not who they think will win. America's problems will not be solved with black and white ideas. Solutions and different visions come from the introduction of other colors (ideas).
"Voting for the lesser of two evils means that you're still voting for evil."
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