The Open Government Act – TopTwo Jungle Primary, whatever – will have definite winners and losers, should it pass. They may not be what the sponsors think they will be. California held their first open primary in June and the results were instructive. Independents, generally known for moderation, and third-party candidates got hosed. Only seven will be on the ballot for legislative or congressional elections as opposed to 192 in 2010. 28 elections will be between members of the same party, thus preventing others from having a choice. Third parties might as well give it up. Their ability to attract attention for their ideas and influence elections they can’t win is gone. Of course in America we don’t care about no stinking minority rights, do we. The big winners will be whichever major political parties can enforce discipline. The big two will immediately see the folly of having more candidates than seats available. The party leaders will choose their candidates behind closed doors rather than in the popular elections we have now. The ability to exclude and punish non-chosen applicants will be the key. Challenges to incumbents will be hopeless. Sham candidates will become common. Self-styled “good government” moderators have been trying to shut down those with opinions for sometime now in our state. Think Clean Elections, Independent Redistricting Commissionand campaign-finance reforms. East time they failed to achieve the desired results as the Law of Unintended Consequences shut them down. Good. Our system of government is not about excluding viewpoints, but assuring that all are heard. Wise government come from checks and balances and the Rule of Law, not by manipulating the system so that only mainstream voices prevail.