Most democracies don’t have democratic election primaries like we do in America. By and large, party elites choose candidates, and the people then vote for the parties or the candidates the elites put on the ballots. American democracy, by contrast, relies on popular primaries: ordinary party members select the candidates, or we have open primaries in which voters can select candidates from either party.
Why do we do this? American anti-elitism. We once saw party elites selecting candidates that were often corrupt and guilty of backroom dealing. We don’t trust parties to evaluate candidates themselves, to help us make a better democratic choice. Put differently, we want to have a say in the matter, even if everyone doesn’t vote in the primaries.
The progressives on the Left who want the primaries done away with argue that primary voters are much more ideological and partisan than the median party voter – not to mention the median general election voter. We might therefore tend to put more conservative candidates on the ballots. The Left would have us believe this is simply unfair. Far from it in my opinion.
The United States did not always have the primary system for selecting presidential candidates. Prior to the progressive era (1890-1920), an irony not lost on you I am sure, candidates were selected by party bosses and elders who would be known as elites today. The progressives wanted more transparency and more direct participation by the citizens in the political process. It was this desire that gave rise to the primary election system, one seen as far more democratic than the ‘smoke filled back rooms’ it was replacing.
It took decades for the state primary process to take hold. Its presence was cemented with the rise of radio and television which gave candidates opportunity to communicate with large swathes of voters directly. This allowed lesser known and more independent candidates to have a presence in the process and from time to time succeed over the preferred major party candidate. Nothing wrong here, just the democratic process at work. But the progressives of the current era are calling for the elimination of the primary process and a return to candidates selected by party and governmental elites.
Today’s progressives believe you simply can’t be trusted at the ballot box. After all, the primary process gave us Donald Trump. A shock to be sure, but one the republic weathered. And on the other side it would have given us Bernie Sanders until he was stabbed in the back by his own party. Twice.
They argue that the primary process is little more than a popularity contest that goes to the best funded or more attractive candidate. They also say the process produces candidates from the extremes of their respective parties because primary voters are more partisan than general election voters. (Again, ask Bernie how that worked out for him.)
And to that I say, so what? Assuming that is true, let’s say you voted for a left- or right-wing firebrand in your respective primary. Great! Either candidate would have to moderate their stances when it comes time to govern. We all know that.
But progressives think the elites know better. The sophisticated political class will serve up two choices for you. You still get to vote in the general election – no problem, right? Wrong, big problem. This back-room chicanery not only limits your choice in the process, but it also removes the process completely. Smaller candidates and different points of view never get a chance. This gives the elites the advantage and the maintains the status quo.
But you aren’t smart enough to realize that. Nothing to see here, move along.
Do the people make better choices than party elites? Maybe, but maybe not. That isn’t the point. The point is they are our choices, our decisions to make. It is also the only form of power we hold over the political elites. The vote. Our vote. I don’t see how giving that power back to an already over-powered elite is advantageous for the voters.
‘We get the government we deserve’ is a phrase often used in political discussions. We do get the government we deserve, the one we vote for, and that is OK.
Progressives somehow think they can shame us into giving up our primary elections. But most conservatives do not believe many of us are too stupid to be trusted in the ballot box. And they would be right!
So, good luck progressives. I don’t believe you stand a chance.
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