Each new presidential election cycle ushers in a fresh crop of voters.  Many of these newly franchised will not understand the basic nature of the major party nominating conventions.  Following is a short PSA explaining how these conclaves actually work.

DEMOCRAT:  The popular vote is very important to the Democratic Party’s nominating process.  Counting the votes cast for the various candidates gives the super delegates a measuring tool to determine how closely their choice of a candidate matches that of the voting public.  If their choice matches that indicated by the popular vote then they give themselves a well deserved pat on the back.  If not, their chosen candidate still gets the nomination but they vow to try to do a better job during the next presidential election cycle, four years hence.

REPUBLICAN:  The all important rules committee is the thing to watch here.

Rule # 1:  There are no rules.

Rule #2:  There will be rules as soon as the committee can determine which rules are needed to guarantee the predetermined outcome.

Rules # 3-50:  TBA.

The Rules Committee process eliminates all the messiness associated with having important decisions, those that will affect the future of the entire nation, left in the hands of a bunch of ill-informed people who don’t really understand how important it is to maintain the current balance of power.

TAKE AWAY:  Do your civic duty, get out and vote.  The popular vote is extremely important no matter which party you identify with.  Without your vote we would no longer be able to maintain the illusion of government by the people.