One-party rule
Wave the flag, tovarisch
Imagine, for a moment, a political system in which one party controls the entire area, where nominees are selected by the party committee, and where the "elections" are "free, fair, and honest" but the outcome is predetermined.
Sounds like the Soviet Union? China? Cuba? Perhaps. But I'm talking about most elections right here in the United States of America. Between legislature-controlled districting, "soft money," politicial patronage, the power of incumbency, and the cozy relationship with various special interests, this is the situation here.
Almost every district in the country is drawn so that one party has absolute control. The system is also set up so that the party committees get to decide, in almost all cases, who the party nominee is. Here in NYC, it is possible for an insurgent to be elected to City Council seats, especially now that term limits make for a lot of open seats. But in general, it is nearly impossible to buck the party and win. The recent example of the special election for the 30th Council seat showed that, as both Charles Ober and Tom Ognibene were soundly defeated by the party machine candidates.
Elections | One-party rule
