To Count or Not to Count: Another Florida Election Debacle

It seems like every time there is an election, whether it be at the local, state or national level, there are major problems. This time it is about the Democrats and their Delegates. Why is this so difficult to work out? Florida and Michigan moved their primary elections up from where they were supposed to be to get an edge on other states and other camps. But the Democratic National Committee decided that the Florida Democratic Party was in violation of their rules, and banned them from gaining any delegates during the primary election held on the 29th of January of this year. So when the day came and went, and the dust settled, Hillary Clinton was the obvious victor of non-countable delegates. Sounds pretty ridiculous doesn't it? Another disgrace to the electoral system of our state and country.

The failed attempts toward a solution.

After many days of wasting time trying to come to a compromise to find a solution for the vote-and-strip primary election, the leaders of both the DNC and Florida Democratic Party came to an impasse. A stalemate. Why? Egos and childish behavior on all sides of the issue. The republican Governor, Charlie Crist, said immediately that a revote was not going to happen. Then he said it would be okay, as long as the taxpayers didn't have to pay for it. Typical double speak from the opposing party. But he was right in stating that the taxpayers should not foot the bill for another election. Neither the DNC nor the FDP was willing to foot the bill either, so here we are. Another $20 million or so wasted, and another couple wasted every week worrying about it. Our elected officials are wasting valuable session time beating this dead horse.

What does this mean to the taxpayers of Florida?

When Amendment One was put on the ballot on Jan. 29 this year, it passed with certainty in the midst of its uncertain benefits to ALL Floridians. The issue was hyped in both directions long before the election. Many saw it as a good thing for some people. Others viewed as too little benefit for the majority of people. But it passed, so now we are under its balloon now. The DNC and FDP issue has taken center stage in Tallahassee. The issues of holding insurance companies accountable and further lowering the property taxes are taking a lesser chair than they would have in a non-election year. If the so called leaders of the DNC and FDP would put aside their selfish and egotistical ways for awhile, maybe the tax paying Floridian would get a fair hand shake where this session and the hometown issues are concerned. It would be a better scenario had the FDP just kept their greed in check. Now the Republicans have something else to point a finger at-more lack of respect for the voters than they have exhibited this election year. After all, they are the taxpayers that foot their salaries.

A viable solution to the problem.

The Republicans have stated that the state will not pay for a 'do-over' vote. That is good. The Democrats have stated that a re-vote can't be done, because neither the state nor the party is capable of pulling it off in time. The candidates want the votes that were cast to count. The DNC says there weren't any delegates to hand over. So here's a fix for the issue. Put both Clinton and Obama on the ballot, and make the votes count then. It will almost certainly make for a very large, maybe even record breaking, voter turnout in November. That is if there are Democrats still willing to vote after having to endure this never ending saga. This will work if the DNC will allow it. They should allow it to save face and creditability with the Democratic voters, not just in Florida but all over these United States of America.