In a message dated 9/14/2004 6:05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Bruce Leier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>Well Dave, > >Party registration, IMHO, clearly results in lower quality candidates. �It makes it >much harder to work with 3rd party candidates. �Party registration is clearly >anti-democratic and seems to be supported by the "hacks" lol >Chuck. �It is designed to keep the "unwashed" independent thinker from messing with >"their party. > >Responsively yours, >Bruce Leier > One last thought on this and then I will let it rest. The point of a political party is an association of reasonably like minded individuals who desire to elect someone of their choice to public office. The point of party registration is to have citizens who desire to join that association of reasonably like minded individuals do so in advance of an election so that the party has the ability to communicate directly with them (find out who has joined their association of reasonably like minded individuals). As an association of reasonably like minded individuals, one would think that they would have the right to put forward the candidate of their choice, the choice of JUST the members of the association of reasonably like minded individuals, or at least those who agree to be a member of the association of reasonably like minded individuals. Those who oppose party registration in effect are saying "I should have the right to decide who should represent your association of reasonably like minded individuals, even if I am not a member and don't like any of you who are members of this association of reasonably like minded individuals." "If my participating in your internal election damages your association, and puts forwards candidates who do not represent the values of your association of reasonably like minded individuals, who cares?" (Kind of like I want to vote for who is president of the Chamber of Commerce without paying membership dues.) The effect in Minnesota is very weak political parties. Elections dominated by candidates who can raise money outside the party and the ability for some candidates to switch political parties without missing a beat. The public then ends up with parties that are meaningless and the old grassroots campaigning with volunteers who worked because the believed in the association of reasonably like minded individuals they belonged to being replaced by paid phone banks of out of state callers. JMONTOMEPPOF Chuck Repke _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
