[Cboldt]

The parties have to pick a nominee somehow. Before 1921, there weren't even any primary elections (or caucuses open to the general public).

Conducting of voter participation events like primaries and caucuses is a tool to fool the public into thinking it has more power over choosing its leaders, than it really has.

One of the pillars of our current system, "universal suffrage," is shown, historically, to be a death sentence for any country. Give the public the privilege of voting (it isn't a right), and it will eventually vote money for itself out of the public treasury. We're there.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The impotence of primaries is a self fulfilling prophecy.