http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/feb04/206757.aspELECTION 2004
Primary system, media decrease voter choicesI have followed with interest the Journal Sentinel's coverage of the 2004 presidential race and am grateful to live in a country where we can all participate in the process. Our system of primaries and caucuses has one unfortunate side effect, however. Votes cast in the later primaries and caucuses seem to have less importance than those cast in the earlier ones.
Even though we are among the first states to hold a primary, already several candidates have dropped out as media attention is focused increasingly on the front-runner. The media covering my candidate of choice, Howard Dean, seem to have all but closed up shop. It almost seems as though the media are voting for us.
Having a real choice on the ballot is important. I feel sorry for family and friends in South Dakota whose primary is in June, by which time their vote might mean very little.
James Olsen
Wauwatosa
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The electorate should be choosing the candidatesIf voters continue to allow the corporate-controlled media and the corporate-controlled party machines to handpick our candidates, our future is bleak indeed.
The electorate does have the power to change the country's direction, but only if we take it. Instead, we say, "May the best men drop out soon so we don't have to listen to things we don't want to hear."
Sheila Held
Wauwatosa