A small extremist minority believing themselves to be more intelligent than the masses and fearing that the unintelligent masses would vote the ‘wrong’ way on a resolution therefore this minority shamefully manipulated the quorum rule to force automatic adjournment of the convention and thus defeat a proposed resolution, rather than let the outcome be decided by a vote.  This is truly “petty politics” and subverted the system of allowing the majority of delegates to fulfill their republican responsibilities and vote on this resolution.

Furthermore, there were other resolutions yet to be debated and voted on, and so this small number of radical delegates, determined to win at all costs not only ‘won’ on the particular resolution they opposed, but also decided the outcome of the other proposed resolutions for all the delegates.  These delegates were elected by their precincts to represent them with a vote on issues.  Over 560 remained after candidate voting to represent their precints in votes on platform amendments and resolutions.  So, fewer than 10 individuals denied over 560 individuals the chance to perform this duty to represent their constituents.  Worse, when these 560+ representatives were denied their vote, their constituents were also denied their vote.

Interestingly, one of those resolutions was a proposal by Dana Dickson that IRV voting be banished.  One of the (unpersuasive) arguments used by Dickson in an article on this site is that a third party candidate who controls a small block of swing votes can determine the outcome of an election — a single person determining the entire outcome!  This is unpersuasive as an argument against IRV, because it is also a problem with plurality voting and runoff voting.  But, that’s a tangent.  The point is, there is a demonstrated aversion to having a very small number determine the outcome for the entire group through dirty politics — and yet, this is precisely the kind of despicable behavior witnessed yesterday.

And what was the resolution in question, that this small number of unrighteous-dominion wielding, power-hungry, and petty politicians so feared even letting go to a vote, lest the uneducated majority actually vote in favor of it?  It was the question of whether County Delegates should be able to amend the County Party Constitution and Bylaws.  Power-mongering is a well chosen adjective for these individuals, indeed.  National Delegates get to amend the National Party Constitution and Bylaws.  State Delegates get to amend the State Party Constitution and Bylaws.  And, most of the County Delegates in other Utah Counties get to amerd their County Party Constitution and Bylaws.  But, in Salt Lake County, the Central Committee doesn’t trust County Delegates with such power!  They wish to retain this power to direct in the hands of their smaller number.

I’ve heard it said that the D want to govern because they know they are more intelligent than everyone else, and the R’s want to govern because they know they are more moral than everyone else.  Whatever the reason, it’s apallingligly clear that in the quest to maintain control and cling to power, some individuals from both parties and at all levels of government are willing to use subversion of democratic and republican principles to achieve their ends.

What a shame.

Joe Fullmer is a Salt Lake County Delegate, who along with over 550 other County Delegates was denied his right to vote on at least three resolutions by a few petty, power-protecting, puerile politicians.