OPEN PRIMARIES

As an "Independent" one would think that I would be ecstatic to have an Open Primary.

At first blush this looks like the independents dream come true.

However, there are serious faults with an "Open Primary".

Two of those faults are "Manipulation" and Dilution".

Manipulation is done when one party sees that their strongest person is mediocre and somewhat disliked, while the other party has one very strong well liked candidate.  The party with the wimp could encourage their members to vote in the other party's primary for the least of that party's primary candidates thus placing the wimp in a much stronger position to win.

Dilution occurs when moderates and independents can vote in either primary and thus may dilute the vote of party members for someone who may not hold the party's view's.

I would agree to a plan which would still require registered Democrats and Republicans to vote in their own primaries but allow moderates and independents to vote in which ever primary they so choose but there must be a method by which to track these mavericks so that they only vote once in and for one candidate.

I realize that there are some Constitutional Issues but then should not the Constitution protect the rights of all citizens and only citizens to vote for the person they wish to see in such a silly position of power?