The First Amendment guarantees every citizen’s right to assemble in political parties with freedom to participate in all party activities, including NOMINATING CANDIDATES for public office, without government interference.
Primaries deprive citizens of their First Amendment right, UNDER COLOR OF LAW, that being government sponsored public opinion surveys, AKA, primaries.
Once parties switched to a primary system, they already lost power. While I agree that smoked-filled rooms would be better at shutting out authoritarian tin-pot dictator wannabes, I don't actually see this being worse. If your main concern is shutting out an American caudillo (instead of strengthening parties just for the heck of it), this may actually be better.
Primaries are UNCONSTITUTIONAL, period.
The First Amendment guarantees every citizen’s right to assemble in political parties with freedom to participate in all party activities, including NOMINATING CANDIDATES for public office, without government interference.
Primaries deprive citizens of their First Amendment right, UNDER COLOR OF LAW, that being government sponsored public opinion surveys, AKA, primaries.
Once parties switched to a primary system, they already lost power. While I agree that smoked-filled rooms would be better at shutting out authoritarian tin-pot dictator wannabes, I don't actually see this being worse. If your main concern is shutting out an American caudillo (instead of strengthening parties just for the heck of it), this may actually be better.