Flawed system needs revamping

I have, for the first time, experienced our caucus system. I was warned that the process was disorganized and frustrating. It was that and more. In the two events I attended I came in hopeful and left disheartened. Even though my candidate, Bernie Sanders, won by a landslide, the process was in serious doubt. In my precinct, the number of delegates assigned to the candidates was miscalculated. Because my math skills were still working I spoke up and got the error corrected. In the district caucus on Sunday it seemed like a never-ending process to sign people in and validate their status as delegates, alternates, or attendees. At one point the papers used to enroll the participants was lost. The time it took to straighten this mess out was inordinate, and forced the process to last hours longer than was promised.

I was very disappointed in our system. Some more skeptical voices in the crowd felt that this could have been done deliberately. I don’t necessarily believe that. What I do believe is that democracy should not be left to the vagueness of a flawed system. Too often, we have seen various forms of voter suppression. This fiasco definitely suppressed my ability to register my vote. I believe that a primary would have been the far simpler and more accurate means of allowing the voters to decide. I think the caucus system has too many steps and too little organization. It allows incompetence to rule and the possibility of dishonesty to exist.

Anthony J. Roon MD

Tulalip