2016 Postmortem

nichomachus

(12,754 posts) Mon Apr 11, 2016, 04:05 PM Apr 2016

Primaries are just for show. Your vote doesn't matter to the parties.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/04/11/when-primary-vote-largely-for-show/78jENg0gHkVcPKmxqs8BON/story.html

Americans are now learning that in the presidential primary process, one person doesn’t exactly equal one vote. In fact, that one vote is largely for show.

Voters would be forgiven if they attended a local caucus or pulled a ballot in a presidential primary, and they thought their vote had some undisputed value like in the general election. Primary voters, after all, go to the same polling location, see the same poll workers, and vote by the same process as other elections.

But here’s how it really works: Primary votes are the equivalent of a parent asking a child where they would like to go next on vacation. While the child’s input might be nice to get some ideas and make the child feel involved, in the end the parent looks at the budget and books the tickets.

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Primaries are just for show. Your vote doesn't matter to the parties. (Original Post) nichomachus Apr 2016 OP

Yes it's dastardly how the Democratic party has so twisted things mythology Apr 2016 #1

And this is why both parties are dying and the numbers for Independents keep growing. liberal_at_heart Apr 2016 #2

It depends on what your definition of dying is. By far, people who win elections are either merrily Apr 2016 #3

The demographics in this country are changing. Whether you look at race, religion, or political liberal_at_heart Apr 2016 #4

Yes, demographics are changing, but the power is still located where it always was. merrily Apr 2016 #6

And they have been exposing themselves too. They are becoming desperate. A clear sign liberal_at_heart Apr 2016 #7

the voters chose the Democratic nominee in 2008 and will again in 2016 nt geek tragedy Apr 2016 #5

Rubbish. It's more complicated than one man one vote, Hortensis Apr 2016 #8

It's my party ... GeorgeGist Apr 2016 #9

mythology

(9,527 posts)

1. Yes it's dastardly how the Democratic party has so twisted things

Reply to nichomachus (Original post)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 04:14 PM

Apr 2016

That the leader of the pledged delegate count and the popular vote are the same. Pure unadulterated evil.

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)

2. And this is why both parties are dying and the numbers for Independents keep growing.

Reply to nichomachus (Original post)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 04:16 PM

Apr 2016

The elites of both parties are completely confused by the support for Trump and Sanders. Well it's not that surprising to the average voter. People have known for a very long time that the government and the election process are rigged against them. That's why over half of the country doesn't vote at all, and why numbers of voters who consider themselves either Republican or Democrat are decreasing while the number of voters who consider themselves Independent are growing.

merrily

(45,251 posts)

3. It depends on what your definition of dying is. By far, people who win elections are either

Reply to liberal_at_heart (Reply #2)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 04:21 PM

Apr 2016

Democrats or Republicans.

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)

4. The demographics in this country are changing. Whether you look at race, religion, or political

Reply to merrily (Reply #3)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 04:23 PM

Apr 2016

affiliation things will be much different in another 10 years than they are now. I will be 50 in ten years. I will still be plenty young enough to see and relish the sea change.

merrily

(45,251 posts)

6. Yes, demographics are changing, but the power is still located where it always was.

Reply to liberal_at_heart (Reply #4)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 05:12 PM

Apr 2016

Look what they've been doing to Bernie.

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)

7. And they have been exposing themselves too. They are becoming desperate. A clear sign

Reply to merrily (Reply #6)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 05:16 PM

Apr 2016

they are losing power. It's just like the Evangelical Christians. The reason they are particularly dangerous right now is because they are losing power and they know it. They are becoming desperate and doing desperate things. So are both party establishments. We will have contested conventions in both parties this year. How historic is that and what will that do to the parties?

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)

5. the voters chose the Democratic nominee in 2008 and will again in 2016 nt

Reply to nichomachus (Original post)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 04:28 PM

Apr 2016

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)

8. Rubbish. It's more complicated than one man one vote,

Reply to nichomachus (Original post)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 05:19 PM

Apr 2016

but these politicians aren't traveling to thousands of towns around the nation and talking themselves hoarse "for show."

If this was right, if we didn't matter, why would they bother? They wouldn't.

We elect them all, we can send any or all of them home. Permanently. There are 300,000,000 of us and maybe 30,000 who want to jerk us around.

GeorgeGist

(25,321 posts)

9. It's my party ...

Reply to nichomachus (Original post)

Mon Apr 11, 2016, 05:38 PM

Apr 2016

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