PEOPLE'S PRIMARIES - BASIC DOCUMENT: I

PEOPLES’ PRIMARIES BASIC DOCUMENT
(Movement for Good Government – Cluster on Primaries)
June 15, 2009

Background:
The Peoples Primaries is an idea based on the U.S. model. Historically, the Primaries in the U.S. came about because of a need to reform the political system which was corrupt and where only a handful of well-heeled people influenced the direction of the country.

REASONS FOR PRIMARIES:
1. The primary system was a backlash against the backroom dealings of corrupt politicians. The primary system was meant to transfer the right to elect a presidential candidate from an elite, entitled few into the hands of voters.

2. It also forced candidates to pay attention to issues that voters considered important. It played a key role in forming the platform of the candidates. Issues that gained popular support were normally adopted by the chosen candidate.

3. Most importantly, it alleviated corruption in national politics and provided yet another avenue through which citizens could take part in the process of choosing their own leaders. The interest generated by the primaries moved many first-time voters to register and go to the polls.


Today our political situation is similar to that of the United States when at the turn of the 20th century they adopted the Primary System. At this stage of our history, we need to retool our Democracy so we can fix our corrupt political system.

At the time that our present brand of democracy was established by our forefathers and their American tutors, they did not completely adopt the U.S. electoral system. Whatever their reasons were, personal, foreign and national they must have believed that majority of our people were not yet prepared to responsibly choose their leaders.

Things have changed, a greater majority of our voters are better informed of the issues, and the youth have access to more and better sources of information. While we do not have a two party system, there is a clear demarcation line been the Trapo and the Non Trapo politicians and their political parties.