This is profoundly upsetting to me, because we should have a system where sometimes the outsider can win. Our founders definitely did not want an oligarchy. But they did not envision 50 states and a wacky "primary season."
I suppose it would take a constitutional amendment to make all federal primaries on the same day, so that would never happen. What else would help?
No, it would need the Party's to reform themselves. Each state can simply pass a law setting when and how their Primary elections are conducted. Guess who runs State Govt? Party politicans who hope to more up to National office some day. So you culd do it without a Consitutional Amendment but it would require the States, and The Party Leadership, to cooperate. However that requires the Party bosses to give up their ability to infuence the process. Especting enlighted leadership for Politicans is a bit much to ask. Average people, especially Freepers, need to get massively involved in politics. Espeically if they can win office, they can gain access tot he levers of party leadership. Then they can make some of the changes we talk about here happen. Sitting around just talking accomplishes little. We have to actually take are party back starting at the grass roots.