Posted by
Mhu Cao on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 2:39:20 AM
The caucus system is wrong and fundamentally un-American. It attacks the foundation of our form of government - the secret ballot.
Sure, it's a manly idea to stand up and be counted, or to openly debate one's views. Many feel intimidated in such an environment, regardless of their position. Others feel pressured into a view they may not support.
The key to our system of government is the ability of each voter to cast his or her vote by secret ballot, free from pressure by neighbors, by employers, by local political operatives, or by the majority of others present, no matter with whose camp they might be aligned. Such a process injects an element of direct democracy into an otherwise free vote, where the reaction of others to one's vote may take time to play out.
We don't live in a pure democracy, and must never allow majority rule. Yet, the caucus system forces majority rule pressures on all caucus participants.
The caucus system tends to stifle the free expression of minority views (race, gender, etc., not relevant for this definition of minority - one's view is) and force the minority to adopt the views and position of the de facto majority, in order to avoid overt or implied condemnation after the caucus tally is taken.Whether you were a black in an mostly-white district, a Latino in an mostly-black district, a Clinton supporter in a mostly-Obama district (or vice versa for any of the examples), the caucus system makes you think twice, not on the issues, but on the potential adverse response of your neighbors to your private views.
This is not right. This is un-American. The caucus system must be abolished.