California Proposition 14 would ban 3rd party candidates from general election ballots ....

[Better Believe It]

unless they get more votes than the Democratic or Republican party candidate in a so-called "primary" election! BBI



Prop. 14: A bad deal for democracy
By Norman Solomon
June 4, 2010

IN THIS STATE, the Democratic and Republican parties rarely agree on anything - but both oppose Proposition 14. Although its misleading ballot title promises to increase the "right to participate in primary elections," the measure actually imposes major new limits on voters.

By eliminating party primaries, Proposition 14 would deny all political parties - and their voters - the right to choose a nominee to run in a general election.

Instead, the top two vote-getters on a single all-inclusive primary ballot would square off in the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

In the process, the measure - an amendment to the state constitution - would exclude small parties from the November ballot.

The Democratic Party is second to none in condemning Proposition 14. Yet it's a proposition that would not be on the ballot if Democrats in the state capital hadn't succumbed to blackmail from a lone Republican state senator, Abel Maldonado (who recently became lieutenant governor).

In the midst of fiscal chaos, Maldonado was able to push the "top two" scheme through the legislature in exchange for his decisive vote in favor of the budget deal. He exercised huge leverage, which existed only due to the undemocratic requirement that revenue and budget laws must gain two-thirds approval in the legislature.

Democracy would be damaged by voter approval of Proposition 14. But the origins of the proposition already make it a grim monument to secretive deal-making in high governmental places.

Days ago, a statewide opinion poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California showed Proposition 14 ahead by a wide margin.

If it becomes part of the state constitution, Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento will have no one to blame but themselves.

Read the full article at:

http://www.marinij.com/marinvoice/ci_15225900