[EL] Reducing Gridlock: BAN Report on Primary Systems and Polarization Papers

[wjk]

Reducing Gridlock: BAN Report on Primary Systems and Polarization Papers




The September BAN compares five studies on the relationshipbetween primary systems of different forms and polarization. The presentationof the studies suggests that the form of the primary system has little to noinfluence on the ideological extremism of the candidates. 
 
The paper by McGhee et al, “finds no correlation betweentype of primary system and the degree of polarization and partisanship in[state] legislatures.”  This paper agreeswith the one by Kousser et al, which states that “campaign contributions,”compared to the form of the primary, “have a disproportionate influence oncandidate positions on the issues.” 
 
Thus, for explaining the causal factors of candidateextremism, and the resulting partisan gridlock, the form of the primary seems lessimportant than the activity of special interest early money in the process.  If ideological ardor and favor seeking arecauses of contribution supremacy among candidates, then without controlling forthis variable, studies of the form of the primary as a cause of candidatemoderation or extremism must be quite inconclusive.
 
Reform by Election Law


If primaries were publicly funded, would they enable moremoderate candidates to emerge victorious? How would each of the several forms of primary effect polarization, ifat all, under a publicly funded system?
 
RE ‘the perverse effects’ of public funding: Suppose aseries of debates were held online, and on TV and radio at public expense.Candidates could be qualified by prior experience in elected office and/orsignatures. There could even be a series of votes online to narrow down thefield to two finalists. Then a final debate and vote. If elimination voting followed immediately after each debate, bigspending on advertising would have minimal influence on voter choices. Instead,their votes would be based on their impression of the candidates.
 
William J. Kelleher, Ph.D.
Political Scientist, author, speaker,
CEO for The Internet Voting Research and Education Fund 
Blog: http://tinyurl.com/IV4All 
Twitter:wjkno1

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