By Dave Gebhard?Reader”s views
I realize that there is some controversy regarding open primary elections, but for all the possibility of voter fraud, the opposition party voting for the weakest candidate to oppose them, I support the principle. Voters should be able to vote for the best candidate regardless of party affiliation. We have few enough high caliber candidates, people willing to subject themselves to the public scrutiny. Worse yet, few enough are willing to be true public servants instead of spoiled bureaucrats.
It is true that moderates have an advantage in open primaries, but moderates do not excite the voters like the extremists do. But moderates keep the ship steady and balance the two extremes to keep the government relevant to all. Too quick and extreme change can destabilize the whole administration. Government stability is reliant on a certain amount of security regarding policies and their impact on society. Perhaps we need to examine our opposition to open primaries, as voters need to choose the optimum candidate in a field usually bereft of a plethora of quality candidates.
Change is inevitable, but it can be good or bad, voters need the ability to choose their poison.
Dave Gebhard
Lakeport
