From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Tue Nov 14 2000 - 14:31:50 MST
Brian D Williams wrote:
>
> From: "Michael S. Lorrey" <retroman@turbont.net>
>
> As I already pointed out, here in Illinois we did NOT get a choice,
> or at least a very poor one.
>
> There is no reason that all the candidates can't be allowed to
> participate in a debate or question or answer type session under
> Universal access requirements.
>
> Then the Borda style primary, followed by the conventions, then
> whatever.
>
> The current system is okay for New Hampshire, it seriously degrades
> every day after that. In other words it sucks for the rest of us.
Only because candidates pull out of the race. If they don't even begin at all
due to an overwhelmingly huge financial barrier to entry, everyone gets screwed,
and you never hear about possible alternatives. Here's my ideas:
a) Similar to as you suggested, I'd say that network television and radio have
to carry all candidates ads/videos as public service ads. To qualify all one has
to do is get 100,000 signatures on a petition.
b) have a half dozen small states and or selected large counties in different
regions that generally reflect a composite of the country as a whole. Hold these
early primaries in sequence several days apart, or all at once. Have the rest as
a Super Tuesday a month or two later.
Frankly, I don't have much sympathy for large population states. They typically
hold excessive power in congress to bring pork spending to their states at the
expense of small states who don't have as large state caucuses. They
consequently receive disporportionately more back in federal grants and spending
than they contribute in taxes. Its just too damn bad if the one place where they
don't have an advantage is in primaries.
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