The Bigs Protect Themselves, and When They Do, Take Them Out

   Legislation sweeps across Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Florida -- efforts to ban or repeal ranked-choice voting, close primary elections, stop voters from signing petitions for new parties, make it harder for independents to run for office, and block alternative parties from being on the ballot.

   "State legislatures are continuing to wage a war against electoral reform and independent politics," says an email from the Forward Party, "cementing a two-party system that prevents competition and inevitably leads to dysfunction." 

   All the more reason to take them down. When power perpetuates itself, it is too much power. When it entrenches itself -- making it so it cannot fall out of power -- that is when it should be taken out of power. Parties protect themselves, and sometimes when they do, there is a loss of freedom. And, when there is, the people need to protect themselves from the parties.