« A shakeup, a shakedown, and a breakdown in the race to control the Tennessee Senate | Main | Ochs, in free »
September 15, 2008
When political parties exceed their purpose
Now here's something I don't say every day: "Oh, to be in Clarksville."† But Clarksville is the site, on Wednesday, where a committee of local political activists, on paper as committed to democracy, might overturn a democratic election. I wouldn't enjoy it, but I would like the opportunity to report on this grave mistake in person. (It should be noted that Senator Kurita filed today as a write-in candidate, so she will participate in the upcoming election no matter what happens.)
Forget, for a moment, to which political party these committee members belong. Both major parties, and most of the minor ones, promote democracy as the mechanism by which the people in a constitutional republic self-govern.
As much as the Tennessee Republican Party would like to make of this instance involving Democrats, I caution my Republican friends not to throw any stones from behind their shimmering glass walls. The day will come, if it has not already, when some of your own will stray down this path. (Pre-publish update: yea, verily, Congressman David Davis is actually wishing it would have happened for him. HT: Post Politics)
Some in the blogosphere have used the events surrounding Rosalind Kurita's reelection struggle as a call for party registration in the state. I respect my friend's view, because I know the intent is to establish clarity in determining electoral outcomes. (However, if we went that way, we'd have to have ballot access and party registration for all, not just two; know what I'm sayin'?)
But would voter registration by party simply add to the problem the parties already have, which was so expertly described by Clint Brewer this morning as "car[ing] more about politics and holding power than they do actual democracy"? This idea of "challenging bona fides" doesn't sit well with me. And it doesn't even make much sense, if you think about it: after all, what does party registration mean, when each major party strives to put up the biggest tent, and therefore each attracts ideological opposites to stand warily alongside each other? Maybe if we had a greater number of smaller, more focused parties; maybe.
I like the fact that I am an independent always; but I can "be" a Republican in August and a Democrat in November. Or is it the other way around? Perhaps that's next election.
†(I'm joking, of course, as even though Chattanooga continues to be my favorite city by an ever-growing margin, I think highly of Clarksville and its surrounding hamlets.)
Political News , Politics is Personal , State Senate Elections | By joe lance | 11:13 PM
Comments
Ballot access for all? I'd absolutely take that as part of the deal. Think how many votes Bob Barr could siphon from McCain! (Yeah, and Nader might take a few from Obama, I know, but it would be the right thing to do.)
Posted by: LeftWingCracker at September 16, 2008 12:39 AM
This may be (slightly?) off topic, but... as far as the political process goes, I'd like to see the parties pay for their own damn primaries. I've never understood why the selection of candidates is subsidized by the taxpayer.
Posted by: alice at September 16, 2008 9:23 PM
Before I read your post, I was going to reply to the headline by asking, "When they wake up in the morning?"
Posted by: Bill at September 16, 2008 9:27 PM
alice, that's not really off topic, to me. It seems that the Constitution, Green, Libertarian and other parties have it right. They select their nominees on their own time, and on their own dime. Then those nominees are placed on the public ballot for the general election.
The two major parties have an argument for using the public election infrastructure for their processes (although if they weren't so big and powerful they might not even need that).
Point is, I oppose public financing of primaries and caucuses.
Posted by: joe lance at September 16, 2008 9:42 PM
Bill: heh.
Posted by: joe lance at September 16, 2008 9:47 PM
Joe Lance for election commissioner! ;-D
Posted by: alice at September 16, 2008 11:29 PM