WHERE IDEAS GO TO DIE

posted by Michael Chihak

A group of once and future Arizona politicians is pushing for an open primary election system in the state, with a "top-two" runoff system similar to what's been adopted in other states.

Those behind the proposal say that with no party in firm control of the Arizona electorate -- divided roughly in thirds among Republicans, independents and Democrats -- the open primary system would provide fairness.

The flaw in the argument may well be that while no one party is firmly ikn control of voter registration numbers, one party -- the Republican -- is firmly in control of the state, with two-thirds majorities in both legislative chambers and every statewide office.

Another potential flaw is the idea that there would be a groundswell of support for such an idea that would overcome the stranglehold that the two-party system now has. Don't count on either of those parties to capitulate.

That includes Democrats, who although well in the minority of state officeholders, can be counted on to cling to the two-party arrangement the way they cling to kissing babies at a political rally.

For more on this, see this story from the Arizona Capitol TImes.