Posts tagged democrats

Two of the most prophetic statements made in presidential farewells are Washington’s warning about foreign entanglements and Eisenhower’s cautionary note about the military-industrial complex.  Evidence of the last half century suggests–and in particular the last administration–they go hand-in-hand, especially with the rise of Big Poli, that amalgamation of consultants, candidates and cantered to interests that decide how elections are held (and often won) in America.  Perhaps Ike’s admonition should be updated then to read ” In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the political-industrial complex. “  Partisan primaries are the key and California has a chance to fight off Big Poli with Open Primaries this Tuesday.  Proposition 14 is the Open Primaries initiative on the June 8 th ballot that would change the way we vote for our elected representatives.  Some smart people I like may call it outlandish but our primaries would go from a closed partisan system to an open nonpartisan one where Californians would vote for their top two choices–regardless of party affiliation.  This also arrives at a time in our history where the fastest growing “political party” in California is that of nonpartisans, aka “Decline to State” voters