General Discussion

The Socratic Method is to reduce things to their most basic truths. A better use of the method would be thus.

What is the purpose of a Primary?

The answer is that the purpose of a primary is to allow supporters to examine, and select the best candidate. Your criteria for selection may differ from others. But your support is based upon beliefs, your weight your beliefs based upon your own values.

You've said. Don't blame me. When I take the political compass test I fall in the same quadrant , bottom left, as the Dalai Lama and Gandhi So obviously you would examine the candidates if you believe your values, your ideals are right, and moral and select someone that represents your values most closely. Instead, you have diminished your ideals and instead used an old political compass to determine who you should support.

John Edwards is on there, he was a candidate, but not since 2008. Realistically his political career ended in 2004 when he was the Vice Presidential nominee.

But let's use analogy to discuss the situation. Let's say you are looking for a new car. You announce that you're starting with an open mind, and you're going to buy the best car available for the money. You set a price maximum that you will not go above. Then you announce the competition over since you're going to buy the Ford Fusion since it's the best car available. People point out that there are cars with better safety records. You insist that the Fusion is the best car. Your reason, it's American Made. People point out that it is manufactured in Mexico, and is constructed using nearly 80% foreign made parts, which pretty much rules out Fusion as American Made. People point to Volkswagen as having better mileage, Toyota for better reliability. Nissan and Subaru for durability.

Finally you admit you want the car only because everyone else seems to like it. If that is your criteria for selecting a car, it's what a greater number of people think, then by all means. Get yourself a fusion. But don't pretend that you are buying a car based upon logical well considered reasoning. You're not. You've selected a car for the most basic and craven of reasons, because more people buy that car.

Oh, how do I buy a car? I decide on a car type that meets my needs. In the last case, a mini van to carry a handicapped family member around. The height of the seat made it easier for them to get in than a sedan which was lower, or a truck which was higher. The ability to carry support equipment if needed in the future in the large storage area was a plus as well. Then I examined the various models, looking at fuel economy, value for money, reliability, safety, and general driving quality. After eliminating several possible I was down to Toyota, and Ford. I test drove the Ford, and the Toyota. I examined them from every angle I could imagine, and in the end selected and purchased the Toyota.

Now, is my way superior? It is for me. I gave all the candidates consideration. I selected the best available that best represented my needs. I wasn't basing my selection on the opinions of majorities. Expert and customer reviews were a part of the consideration, as was ratings from Consumer Reports. However, in the end I made the decision based upon my own criteria and my own needs.

You've told me that you are selecting Hillary before anyone has announced, including Hillary, and before any process has begun to identify other possibilities, not because she represents your own views, or your own ideals, or your own passions. But because she represents the views of the bulk of the Democratic Party pretty much the same as any other candidate. Pretty much the same as any Republican candidate too, from 2008.

If you want to like the Ford Fusion because more people like it. That's fine. It's your right. But you should admit you're the kind of person who does things because others might like you if you choose what they do. You subjugate your own ideals, likes, and beliefs to the whims of others. You don't have core beliefs, you have core things you wish other people believed so you could believe them too.

I'll give you credit though. You've admitted what I suspected has been going on for a long time. That most of the Hillary supporters online are hoping to be able to say they were onboard for X amount of time, they support her because they think she's going to be popular one day. Like buying the Holiday Barbie thinking it will be worth money in twenty years. You don't like it, but you figure someone will eventually. However since everyone is buying it for the same reason, it will never be worth nearly as much as you think, because one of the factors of value is how rare the item is. 90% of the dolls are wrapped in plastic and set in humidity controlled storage. They'll never be rare.