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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1984)
Thursday, February 16, IS34 Pago 4 Daily Nebrasksn ICS ( ) ;v' v:ov;ir::;EVO'J 71 o n o "fj i ,( M M 11 (T )) i Mr' ! H : ..... .:. i v. . L VU - ,-!r,L---- "II. The lead editorial in Monday's Daily Nebraskan ("How do voters spell re lief?") addressed the issue of the seem ingly endless primary season. The piece insisted the lengthy time preceding party conventions had "made us the laughing stock of the free world." Given this newspaper's use of the editorial we, I'm not sure whether the "us" referred to in that quote is this country or this paper. Assuming for the moment it refers to the United States, I challenge the assertion that -J We are being jeered. The current prim ary system indeed represents the fine tuning of the American electoral sys tem, not its disintegration. Recall that much of the current sys tem was devised during a period of massive party reform. Formerly, the pre-convention period was typified by closed-door conventions and political bargaining. Only a few primaries exist ed, and their impact was insignificant. Party reform facilitated in part by closer scrutiny by the news media changed all that. By the late 70s, primaries had developed into the most important factor in selecting the par ties' nominees. It is generally agreed that this change benefited both the party and the elec torate. For the voters, it provided the opportunity to view the candidates at a more immediate leveL Candidates from both parties spend more time in, say, Nebraska during the primaries than the general elections. The new system also gave the even tual nominee the chance to experience first hand the rigors of conducting a f long-term campaign. Indeed, after sustaining himself over a period of four months, the 2 14 month general election season becomes easily tolera ble. Now, there is growing dissent with the current system. The Monday edi torial citedtwo main complaints: The season is too long, and states like Iowa and New Hampshire are given dispro portionate importance. Addressing the latter problem first, the editorial conceded the futility of its own argument: No matter which alter native i3 put into place, some state is going to get to be first The editorial further claimed the large California primary is trivial be cause it comes so late in the season. I disagree. Edward Kennedy's Califor nia victory in 1 C30 was a serious blow indeed to Jimmy Carter's campaign, as was Ronald Reagan's 1976 victory against Gerald Ford. While both incum bents eventually did secure their par tics' nominations, the votes cast for their opponents in the California pri mary were far from trivial. Additionally, the editorial asserted "Nebraska's small number of delegates are not important by the time mid-May primaries roll around." Nebraska can be judged to be of greater importance during the primary than the general election, if the time spent here by can didates is any indication. As for the time spent on holding primaries, the editorial exaggerated the situation somewhat. The actual primaries don't start until late Febru ary. What we are reading about now are caucuses and pre-convention straw votes. It's the caucuses and conven tions, then, that make the process seem so long and pre-determined, not the primaries at all. The editorial offered the regional primary plan as a solution to this so called problem. This scheme would divide the country into several regions, and primaries in each region would be the same week. Rather than solve the malady ad- dressed in the editorial, this alterna , tive would worsen the situation. Take Nebraska as an example. If the state was put in a region comprised of North and South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri (not an unreasonable assump tion), attention would shift almost exclusively to the latter two (compar atively) large states. Small states, such as Nebraska, might then be forced to switch back to a party caucus or con vention system. In the so-called "good old days" this may have resulted in the hastier selec tion of a candidate. However, with development of the electronic news media, the result would most likely be an additional emphasis placed on pre caucuscs, conventions and non-binding straw votes. Instead ofshortening and simplifying the process, this aiterna . tive could easily lengthen and trivialize it In short, the regional primary plan is not "reform" at all. Rather it is a throwback to the old system of behind-the-scenes politicking. I maintain this is not progress at alL IIlheFrcsi n r; 1 fEiiTr:iinT WILT ITS I I3T rrr; I t::e r:;s5L'::3.JTs fhcm TaT p"' HTP T Q f 1, A 'Mi ' j Captain Cap's radio program sells political white elephant SCZSCZSCZSCZ ". . . and that's the wea . . ." SCZSCZSCZ "My baby does the hankie ..." SCZSCZoCZ This is Captain Cap at station KKYP, your capital city radio connection. Under cloudy skies weVe got 45 de- j ' . Kema 6 Soderberg . - grees. And hey, we're gonna get your day rdUkCl Got some old junk ya' wanna' sell? Got some oldjunkya'wanna'buy? Jus' give us a calL "Good morning, Capital Call In . . ." "Ya, IVe got some Paul Douglas for President sweatshirts. It's a limited edition line. Profits go to the "PD for president" campaign. You can just stop by our campaign headquarters on 126 N. 11th the old Commonwealth building. Well suit ya' up. Thanks." Thank you. This is Cap Call In, You're on the air." "Ya, Captain, I've got some space to sell." "Everybody's got space, fella, what's the id..." "Not up here at the Nebraska Union. Everybody's shuffling for space here. But I tell ya, as a janitor, IVe found some great room! Clear out some junk and it could even make a women's lounge or something." v "Sounds interesting, where is this space?" "Southwest corner, first floor of the union ASUN ofT;ce. Oughta' make the coming elections easier, too. At least one of the six parties will drop out of the race if they Icaa a place to keep their books during the school day." Thanks, ah, where can people con tact you?" "Under the clock in the South Crib, 1 1 a.m. every Wednesday. I don't have an office yet." "OK, thank you and thanks for cal ling Capital Call In. . . . This is Cap Call In, you're on the air." "Hi, I'm jus' passin' through from Kimball, Nebraska.'n'hcard your show." "Great sir, how can we help you?" "Yeah, well, we've get some Minute man missile silos we've been trying to get rid of. They'd make great backyard conversation pieces. V.zlis 'em look pretty by planting mums around 'em. Why, IVe heard Kansas City's gonna use one to dell up a city park. You'd be the talk of the neighborhood! The talk of the town!" Ccr.tlr.-cd ca P&ge 5 f l : : W&at do you thiols of Nebraska's unicameral leaislaSive moz-iml 1 i 'A h rrf d $ ira . "I tl.in2 'it's pod far' llzbizzlzs. : tscnse it's nsn-psrtisan. Even ects ere 'diverse, it's net liverzs er.osg!i to I:r,ve a t'Tj-psrty,eyEtesuw . - ' C'axri3 Teten : OECh on Iolrjyi - 4- 'It eeems ta varl; pretty TrelL It prcViily v.cil.3 better tlizn i-.ro ti"zz3 ... it's r,r?c!;cr fiir g t!;TCr.'::'i cr,2 1.:::-:,?.. It's easier a! :o,' Delbcrt Cam Technician tr.tre'sall' I mzli soineb' settled up bell CO iv wcr.! 1 lsitnr.tSea Pktts- in Herri eltaisccrticain when GccC3. . urs thr.t ncr-y vci ty cris.-J ' 3fc " ffi, e.ir.!:. in m Co ..' n't