The Heavy-Handed Political Machine in Utah

One of the most heavy-handed political machines in the nation is the Utah Republican Party. And as the party breaks from another state convention, we are reminded of this bleak reality.

It's an embarrassment to the state. 

Old-timers will remember the political machines of Chicago's Richard Daley and others. We can appreciate that perhaps as a rule, party organizations have become more people friendly.

It has been said that governance should flow from the people, as opposed to being imposed on them from above. Do we suddenly have a different belief when it comes to parties? Do we suppose it is good governance that they govern with a heavy hand?

It's time for change. And the first step is to recognize what grievances we are guilty of.  So, let's reflect on some of the things a party machine can do to intimidate and control the electorate -- things it can do to diminish the people's role. All of these might not be applicable to the Utah Republican Party, but a good number of them are:

1) Hierarchical structure. Party leadership remaining within an inner circle. The same people serving in the capacity of delegates year after year. The same people running the show. The same people in charge.

2) Strong central leadership to direct party activities. This can be reflected in a number of ways: A) Party planks generated by the leadership as opposed to coming from the rank-and-file voters. B) Selection of candidates or endorsement of favored candidates by party leadership (this can extend to helping line up convention delegates to vote for the chosen candidate).

3) Condemnation of those who don't square with party platforms -- such as requiring "purity tests," calling those who don't conform "Rinos," and censoring those who don't toe the party line.

4) Insistence that nominees come from the convention, as opposed to leaving those choices open to the electorate in the primaries. Getting on the ballot via the signature route is condemned. 

5) Party apparatus that rejects the will of the people. Examples of this would be when three-term U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett was eliminated from office in convention, and when Gov. Olene Walker, despite being popular in public polling, was rejected in convention.

Sit back and reflect: Do we want to be a state with autocratic control? It is not something we should want -- not in our state government and not at the party level.

It's an old phrase: That government that governs least, governs best. Somehow, the very people who cite it the most are the ones guilty of not applying it to the Utah Republican Party.