Regarding the Feb. 18 editorial “System sullies democracy,” I’ve been a registered Democrat most of my adult life. I noticed something was wrong in 2008. Caucus participants must arrive at a specified time and place, regardless of schedule conflict or availability of child care or transportation.
A caucus process increases the influence of party insiders and decreases the influence of the public. I was told that the Democratic National Committee ordered that we could have a caucus or an election, but not both. Republicans had both a caucus and an election. Election results were given greater weight. Republicans operated in a more democratic way than did Democrats.
In the New Hampshire Democratic Party primary, there were 30 delegates available. Bernie Sanders got 60 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton got 38 percent. Arithmetic suggests that 60 percent of 30 delegates is 18 and 38 percent is 12 delegates. Both candidates received 15 delegates. Superdelegates enjoy influence and powers not available to regular delegates.
The Columbian Editorial Board is exactly right.
Howard Leighty, Vancouver
