Way Too Much Campaign Advertising
Since live people can only call so many other people, they also revved up the computer demon dialers to make sure I got plenty of reminders as the big day approached. I had one-way conversations with Bill and Barak and John and Hillary and Ron, and a few others I can't recall. Since they wanted to make sure someone answered, lots of those reminders came about the time I was trying to enjoy dinner and conversation with my family.The post office delivered another onslaught, a cornucopia of brochures touting in print what was already being touted by phone, and TV, and radio. Did I mention billboards? Got to make sure voters get the message.
I'm old enough to have been through several presidential election cycles and don't recall receiving this much up close and personal attention. I think a couple of things led up to this. First, the Nevada shindig was early in the process, making everyone eager to catch a breeze for the long voyage ahead. Second, there aren't very many Nevadans (2.5 million), so when national campaign organizations fire up operations, we get hit with the same horsepower needed to do a place like California (36.5 million). Hey, we're not LA up here.
Differing Opinions on the Caucus Experience
I went to my precinct caucus because voting is important and I believe each of us, collectively, really matter in the election process. My experience was pleasant enough. The volunteer helpers mostly knew what they were doing and kept the whole thing moving along fairly well. I enjoyed meeting some neighbors I'd only seen in passing, and was pleased to see everyone getting along no matter who they supported. My preference was counted and off I went.Not everyone had an experience similar to mine, at least according to all the letters-to-the-editor in the Reno Gazette-Journal. By my informal tally, around half the writers found the whole thing either bogus, incomprehensible, unorganized, unrepresentative, unpleasant, or undemocratic. The other half said it was great, had a wonderful time, grassroots democracy in action, hope to do it again. The winning candidates liked it, the losers left some grousing in their wake. I'll do it again four years hence, but only if the system gets some serious tweaking.
We Need to Fix the Process
Should we head back to the voting booth, or can the caucus be made less raucus? After this sputtering run around the track, Nevada caucusing obviously needs a tune-up. The first fix I'd make is to figure out how everyone who wants to has the opportunity to participate. With traditional primaries (go to the polling place and vote), you've got 12 hours to get there. If you're working, disabled, stuck at home with the kids, can't afford the gas, happen to be in the military and stationed away from home, or whatever, early voting or absentee ballots do the trick. With caucusing, you've got to physically be there. If you can't make it, alternatives aren't provided and you are excluded. That's not right.One prominent politician, Nevada State Senator Dina Titus, immediately came out advocating the standard primary system. That's how it was done every other place I've voted, and without the ruckus stirred up by this caucus. Maybe she's got a point.
I don't have a red hot solution. If you do, let us know. Finding equitable solutions and then working to make them happen is, after all, the way our country is supposed to work.
