4 ms·
It’s always been a bit of a puzzle for me to define just what the Democratic Party is. There are no formal membership dues, and registration varies by state. Ca
by leto_ii 7y ago
It’s always been a bit of a puzzle for me to define just what the Democratic Party is. There are no formal membership dues, and registration varies by state. Candidates can sometimes run for the party nomination without being a member
As a non-American this kind of stuff has always been a bit bewildering for me. Why is such opacity accepted in the electoral/political process?
Doesn't this always risk shifting power to unknown and unaccountable individuals?
Doesn't this muddying of waters allow for all sorts of hidden conflicts of interest?
- DanTheManPR 7y agoPart of the reason is that the framers of the US constitution hated parties, and seemed to take a "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" approach. With no backbone of written law to fall back on, US political parties only rely on their own rules as an organization of people. All the problems you described do affect them, and they used to be even more exclusive and opaque. The candidacies of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are fruits of the opening up of parties, effectively allowing takeovers by determined blocks of people.
- LarryDarrell 7y agoFor the most part, most of our rules and traditions are there to make sure the poor and people of color stay disenfranchised.