Closed Versus Open

Systems and Primaries

It’s the last day of early voting. Get out and vote.

When I was investing in startups, I used to try to provoke a fight among engineers. I’d ask engineers who preferred open systems, like Linux, to advocate for Linux versus a closed system like Microsoft. The system you chose often affected the code that was written and the operations. It could also potentially affect the cost structure.

I provoked the fight because I was a financier, not an engineer, and I always learned something.

There are advocates for what is called an “open primary” in politics. I am not for them. Open primaries allow for a person to decide which political party they are going to vote for on the day, or in the days preceding the primary. That means the political parties do not have a lot of control over who their candidates might be.

A lot of American voters see themselves as independents. I think that’s great. They see themselves as objective outsiders who want the best candidates. When you choose to be a part of a party, Democrat or Republican, you are aligning yourself with the values or platform that party espouses.

For example, at every single Republican event I have been at across the entire state of Nevada, I can guarantee that three things happen at the very beginning of the event.

• A prayer is said

• The Pledge of Allegiance is recited

• A mention to sign a petition keeping men out of women’s sports is said, and people are encouraged to sign it. Every single Republican gathering I have been at since January has had this. (Thanks to the women who are out there getting signatures)

Additionally, speakers mention “Yes on 7, no on 6.” We have two ballot initiatives this year in November. Yes on 7 means that we will have voter ID in the state of Nevada. Republicans can’t get their act together in DC to pass voter ID, but Nevada is going to pass it with over 70% of the vote. Hey, Republican Senators in DC, get the hint yet?

To sum up Question 6 in easy-to-understand terms, it would allow any medical practitioner of any stripe to enable or perform an abortion. It’s amazingly gross, and even pro-abortion people should be against it. I thought we wanted abortion to be “safe, legal, and rare,” not done anywhere by anyone, but that’s what Question 6 would allow.

I went to a Democratic meeting in North Las Vegas. They invited all the candidates, and 4/5 State Treasurer candidates showed up. I was the only Republican, and possibly the only Republican in the room.

• There was no prayer.

• There was no Pledge of Allegiance.

• There was no mention of getting boys out of girls’ sports. Nor were there mentions of Amendment 7 or 6.

I highlight that to say there are differences between the two political parties. They compete. America was founded on private property rights and capitalism, and because of that, we compete. Free market competition is a bedrock foundation of American society.

That’s why closed primaries are great. They let the people who are active in the party have an internal debate and decide which candidate will best represent them with the idea of winning the general election in November.

Open primaries allow for what Rush Limbaugh did in 2008. Do you remember “Operation Chaos”? Republicans around the country participated by crossing over and voting for Hillary, and in some cases, giving her a small donation.

Unfortunately, Rush’s Operation Chaos didn’t stop the Obama Train, but it laid the groundwork for a lot of other Operation Chaoses to happen around the country. Just this year in Alaska, a “Dan Sullivan” appears on the Alaska Senate ballot as the incumbent Dan Sullivan runs for re-election.

Open primaries pave the way for political operatives to engage in sneaky tricks.

That’s why closed primaries are the best way to select candidates. In my primary, there is a clear choice between my opponent and me. I put this video up on X yesterday and will repost it here.

I can win in November. My primary opponent cannot. He cannot raise money. He cannot win independents. He can’t bring Republicans to the polls either.

Plus, there is the experience factor. If you think your attorney general ought to have a law degree, shouldn’t the treasurer have financial experience?