by John F Mann

Created on: April 29, 2008

The five-month stretch between the first (Iowa caucus) and last (South Dakota primary) contest to determine presidential candidates is long, but within reason. However, the much longer campaign period between mid-term congressional elections and the Iowa caucus is excessive, especially considering how the near-permanent campaign disrupts Congress.

One possible change is proposed below, after a brief explanatory digression.

Thousands of persons working for campaigns and media spend excessive amounts of time and energy (literally) for presidential primaries. Imagine if only ten percent of that time and effort were expended on finding solutions to much more important problems.

Millions of citizens interested in politics are treated to a steady dose of campaign "news" on TV that highlights the fluff of personality and alleged character flaws. Of course a primary reason that TV (and online) news avoids discussion of public policy details is that the vast majority of viewers will switch the channel quickly. In the daily media election, entertainment has been trouncing political education for a long time.

The following summarized proposal is intended to shake-up the current, intractable election apparatus. However, there is certainly much more to be done.

1 - Congress, or if necessary, the states should take control of the presidential primary process. Each national party has long ago demonstrated that they have no interest in extending the primary process to their conventions, which have become paid political announcements only. The current stalemate for the Democrats effectively proves this conclusion.

2 - The first primary (or primaries) should be decided by lottery. Eligible states (see below) can choose to be in the lottery, which will randomly select one or two states to go first. The lottery should not be held more than 3 months before the first primary date. This will ensure that campaigns can not camp out semi-permanently in the first states like they do in Iowa and New Hampshire.

3 - Only the smaller states (perhaps the 20 with least population) should be eligible for the first primary. This will preserve what is reasonably considered to be a positive aspect of having a small state such as Iowa and New Hampshire go first.

4 - States that win the lottery should not be eligible again for a minimum of 3 presidential elections.

4 - Although states should remain in control of their election process, encouragement should be given to a primary instead of a caucus.

Learn more about this author, John F Mann.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.