By Staff
What a joke.
In a recent story in an online version of another Michigan newspaper, some of our state's political leaders were quoted as moaning and bad-mouthing voters who didn't show up to vote in Tuesday's first early Michigan primary.
I am a voter. I take the responsibility and privilege seriously. I have gone way out of my way to make certain I voted in elections, but I didn't vote on Tuesday. Why would I? Why should any Michigan voter have gone to the polls on Tuesday?
The vote meant absolutely nothing and we knew well in advance it wouldn't.
Republicans ended up with a skewed result – Romney did well because he is a son of Michigan and son of a beloved former Michigan governor. He's touting his Michigan victory as a "comeback." It's a comeback that will last only until the next primary.
Democrats ended up with – truly – nothing. Two of the party's three contenders weren't even on the ballot. It was a race between Hillary Clinton and uncommitted.
But Clinton doesn't get Michigan delegates for her win. The national Democratic party withdrew those as punishment for the early primary. The Republicans cut the number of state delegates in half.
The early primary, which was apparently spearheaded in unison by leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties, was a major flop. The aim was to give the state greater influence over party nominations and call attention to the state's economic woes.
Perhaps it did put the state's financial crisis in the limelight for a day or so, but was that worth it? What resulted was a meaningless and a collosal waste of taxpayer dollars – $10 million or more in a state that can ill afford that waste.
If only our state lawmakers of both parties would come together to make something meaningful happen, something that would have a positive impact on the citizens of the State of Michigan. But, no, it's just politics as unusual for Michigan.
Our nation's system of primary elections does need overhauling. It gives too much influence to Iowa and New Hampshire. National party leaders should come up with some system that spreads that influence among other states or regions of the country.
But what Michigan's lawmakers did in moving the primary was simply punish their constituents.
We've been punished enough.
No wonder our state is in the shape it's in, if partisan politics like this is what our lawmakers choose as important for Michigan citizens.