Hi, Michael
re: "... given the assumption of equality, the party leader is
formally on a level with any party member. Each has a
single vote at each step of the primary, including
nomination."
Absolutely!
This leads to the obvious question of "How?", but asking it may be
premature.
re: "Each has the same primary electorate. It is therefore
likely that each will make the same decision and sponsor
the same candidate."
Why is that likely?
It seems no more likely than that everybody will order chocolate ice
cream. I've never cared much for pistachio but it persists, in spite of
my disregard for it.
re: "If true, what effect would it have on the parties?"
I don't think I can answer the question (at this point). It would seem
that each party would start with a different core and initially propose
different candidates. Thereafter, the decisions of the party members
would be influenced by the non-partisans. The influence would almost
certainly be toward the center because each party can be expected to
already harbor the most extreme advocates of the party's position.
However, the degree of influence would change rapidly with time and
circumstance, so the result cannot be certain.
re: "The next step in its (democracy's) evolution could easily
see their (political parties) elimination."
Oh, my! Oh, my!
I must question the use of 'easily'. There has been nothing 'easy'
about your work over the past umpteen years - or my own - (he said with
a smile).
Fred
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