It's funny, because they want to accuse the Chinese of "groupthink", but the US presidential primaries are the perfect example of going along with the herd. There aren't enough delegates in play on "Super Tuesday" to secure the nomination for anyone, but if a candidate is behind on delegates when it comes, even significantly behind, and wins that day, that candidate is the presumed nominee. Even in states that are basically guaranteed to net zero electoral votes for one of the two parties, Texas for the D team, California for the R team. Least insane political system.
The primary system is completely fucked, without a doubt.
But the real problem is ultimately winner take all electoral college. I wouldn't begrudge a state like Texas throwing its voice behind the nominee if the 40/60 vote split yielded equivalent electoral votes for each nominee.
It's funny, because they want to accuse the Chinese of "groupthink", but the US presidential primaries are the perfect example of going along with the herd. There aren't enough delegates in play on "Super Tuesday" to secure the nomination for anyone, but if a candidate is behind on delegates when it comes, even significantly behind, and wins that day, that candidate is the presumed nominee. Even in states that are basically guaranteed to net zero electoral votes for one of the two parties, Texas for the D team, California for the R team. Least insane political system.
The primary system is completely fucked, without a doubt.
But the real problem is ultimately winner take all electoral college. I wouldn't begrudge a state like Texas throwing its voice behind the nominee if the 40/60 vote split yielded equivalent electoral votes for each nominee.