Comments on: New Mexico Web Newspaper Publicizes Ballot Access Lawsuit http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/06/17/new-mexico-web-newspaper-publicizes-ballot-access-lawsuit/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:51:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4724 By: Jim Riley http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/06/17/new-mexico-web-newspaper-publicizes-ballot-access-lawsuit/comment-page-1/#comment-736606 Jim Riley Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:11:59 +0000 http://www.ballot-access.org/?p=6789#comment-736606 It fails to recognize the core problem, which is that any state recognition or organization of the nomination processes infringes on the rights of individual citizens to politically associate on ad hoc basis in support of individual candidates for individual offices. The current system is essentially legalized political racketeering. All the Libertarians and Green Party are asserting is a Equal Protection right to also engage in the corruption. Simple system: Individual candidates petition to get on the ballot. Political parties, clubs, gangs, etc. may organize to support any candidates and sign the petitions or otherwise support their candidacy. The State does not recognize parties for purposes of restricting access to the voting booth or other participation in the political process by individual citizens, rights of nomination, branding on ballots, straight tickets, etc. The State may limit campaign spending by political parties just as they limit spending by individuals or PACs. It fails to recognize the core problem, which is that any state recognition or organization of the nomination processes infringes on the rights of individual citizens to politically associate on ad hoc basis in support of individual candidates for individual offices.

The current system is essentially legalized political racketeering. All the Libertarians and Green Party are asserting is a Equal Protection right to also engage in the corruption.

Simple system: Individual candidates petition to get on the ballot. Political parties, clubs, gangs, etc. may organize to support any candidates and sign the petitions or otherwise support their candidacy.

The State does not recognize parties for purposes of restricting access to the voting booth or other participation in the political process by individual citizens, rights of nomination, branding on ballots, straight tickets, etc. The State may limit campaign spending by political parties just as they limit spending by individuals or PACs.

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