This is something I just can't understand:

Why don't the Democrat and Republican parties choose their own candidates for the election? It would save millions of dollars in advertising etc, and it seems to make more sense to me.

I am watching right now as the Democratic party tears itself apart, perhaps ruining it's chances when Obama or Clinton, rising from the dust and covered in political wounds, actually run for the presidency.

In New Zealand things work fine with parties selecting their own leaders (although we have proportional representation so the situation is a little different).

Is the "election for the candidacy" really worth it? Is it just America trying to blindly preserve it's traditions? Or is there actually a good reason for the amount of time and money put in to find a candidate who could easily have been chosen without a hassle by their own political party?

This isn't all rhetoric, answers would be appreciated as I really don't know why they use this system.

it think we use it for 3 reasons (good or bad):
1) letting individuals choose. the US is meant to be all about the will of the people. the primary 'season' lets the people decide who they want to run for them, even though most candidates will drop out before the majority of people can vote in a primary. it's still better than only being given 1 choice per party. more candidates = more issues raised = more people included in the process.
2) money. primary season means a lot of money for political parties. lots of fundraising. the US is also all about the money. special interest groups pump millions into political parties. i think Obamma has already raised $236million, and he hasn't even been nominated yet.
3) suspicion. a lot of Americans are just plain suspicious of our government, and don't want political parties choosing their own nominees. people like knowing that someone can't just deal their way into the presidency.

i don't mind the primary process, but caucus' bug me. without ever having participated in one, i think it leans too far towards a mob mentality, and i'm not sure why we still have them.

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They are trying to make election of their candidates as democratic as possible. Which is admirable. In Parliamentary democracies the determination of which candidate is their prime candidate usually happens without the public getting a vote. It happens through internal party votes.

The only problem with this apparent super-democratic view of the two established parties is that there are just two established parties.

New Zealand makes good wine and decent vodka (42 Below), other than that I see no real impact they make in the world. Obviously as the worlds only super-power we are doing things the right way. So keep pretending to be Australian and let us work out our politics.

Good one!

ETA: Would you have any sensible opinions on the subject at hand?

Thank You.

Well, would you?

Of Course, I always have opinions.

We use the system because our government is a government of the people. The people elect the leaders. The party system that Kiwi talks about gives the power to the people who run the party.

So while it seems to be a circus, it serves a the purpose of bringing to the forefront the candidate of the majority. I feel a little left out this election because none of the candidates represent my views to the extent that I would like.

In short, you have no idea. I'm saddened. You seemed educated.

Anyone else have an answer?

What are you talking about Dynamite? His question was why we use the system.