Watching the Port Charlotte, Florida Caucus live.

[musicblind]

The process is fascinating, and I give the participants credit for how seriously they take it, but seeing it happen in real-time just reinforces why I think primaries work better than caucuses.

For example, Klobuchar (a perfectly fine candidate) won the first ballot, and Sanders (a perfectly fine candidate) and Warren (a perfectly fine candidate) weren't viable. They then asked Sander's and Warren's people, along with the other unviable candidates, to realign. Klobuchar's group called out "Amy!" immediately.

My first thought was: "Wow, there would be so much peer pressure to go with Klobuchar even though most Sanders/Warren supporters would probably prefer another viable candidate."

Humans have a psychological tendency to "herd" their views and voting in public exasperates this tendency.

How can any system that encourages public voting be truly democratic?

For me, personally, the scene reinforced the value of keeping a person's vote private.

[krissey]

1. I agree. I think it is atrocious. I could not even participate with my inability to handle

public chaotic mess.

[musicblind]

2. I didn't think about that!

I was born with profound hearing loss. I'm lucky that I have a great family and support system, but how would that work out at a caucus? I struggle to hear people in live settings. If I brought it, would the person in charge be willing to wear the wireless mic leading to my neckloop and thus my hearing aid?

I always just assumed they would, but it's something that shouldn't even be a question.

If someone has social anxiety, a caucus would be so hard on them.

Btw, congratulations on your candidate's victory there!

[krissey]

3. I have been working tush off all day and just getting back to my computer.

This is the first post I have read. So yea the congratulations, but not at all knowing what happened.