Even from across the pond Antoine Clarke sees the plight of small political parties in the U.S:
Sitting in London and watching the New Hampshire primary is a strange experience. The 'Republicrats' have a disgraceful advantage built into the US election process with different laws applying to their candidates than for those of other parties.
For British readers it is as though the Liberal Democrats had to get up to three or four million signatures on a petition to be allowed to appear on the ballot paper, as opposed to the £150 fee and a copy of the party's constitution to the Electoral Commission and 6,590 voters to sign nomination papers for the whole country.
This country sees the two big political parties as extensions of the state. The primary process, essentially an internal process of what should be private organizations, is funded by millions of dollars in tax money. Smaller parties are on their own.
At least Colorado is threatening to not hold a presidential primary.
Posted by Walter at January 29, 2004 08:19 AM