By Letter to the Editor
Published October 10, 2003
Re: Experiments in direct democracy could make for big changes in California, by David S. Broder, Oct. 8.
The operative word in this column is "direct" (by or of action of the people through popular vote instead of through representatives or delegates).
Unless one is a staunch political party supporter, one would think that California's initiative for a primary vote where the top two candidates, regardless of party, go into the general election would have universal appeal for most voters in this country today.
As pointed out by Broder, "The advantages claimed for the system are that it would encourage participation in the primary by independents, the fastest growing element of the electorate, and that it would break the pattern of Republicans nominating the most conservative contender in their party primary, and Democrats nominating the most liberal." Broder adds, "If that proved to be true, moderation, rather than intense partisanship, might become the prevailing pattern . . ."
With the approval of an initiative similar to California's by the people in their respective states, a collateral and hopefully more beneficial result should be the election of representatives more responsive to the interests of the people they serve.
