So Marty Trillhaase, the Tribune’s Opinion Page editor, thinks it’s OK to spend $40 million of Idaho taxpayer dollars to implement the Open Primary Initiative because independent voters choose not to run a slate of candidates?

Or perhaps it’s because Idaho Democrats are so out of touch with Idaho values that even a yellow dog is a more attractive prospect for political office? Of course, it could be that too many people think that voting and maintaining our republic should be easier than taking the time to decide what they want for their morning latte.

So now we have the Open Primaries Initiative on the November ballot because 97,000 people from across the state find it easier to sign a petition rather than participating in the grassroots work to form or reform a political party. Benjamin Franklin was right when he replied, “You have a Republic, if you can keep it.”

The Idaho Republican party has a closed primary election, which means that only those voters registered or willing to identify as a member of the Republican Party can vote for the Republican candidates in the May primary elections. Apparently Democrat and independent voters feel “disenfranchised” because they can’t vote in the Republican primaries. The Constitution and Libertarian parties also have closed primary elections but seemingly Democrats and independents don’t feel disenfranchised in those primaries.

As I detailed in my May 5 column, independent voters can vote in the Republican closed primary if they are willing to identify as a member of the Republican party for about 48 hours. They are the only ones who have this choice. Registered members of other political parties — Democrat, Constitution or Libertarian — cannot change their registration on the primary election day to vote for Republican candidates. That’s not good enough for Democrats and independents. Hence, the OPI.

It seems that the number of independent voters in Idaho has an inflation rate higher than that of the Biden-Harris administration. Back in May, the number of independents was around 250,000 to 270,000. Wednesday, we read that it’s now up to a half-million voters. Now, if you were to combine that number of voters with the 100,000-plus Idaho Democrats, you would have enough voters to challenge the Republicans on equal terms, which would mean that you’re no longer disenfranchised in determining the direction that you want Idaho politics to go. Even if you only had the 250,000 independent voters that you claimed were shut out back in May, you could still have an effect in Idaho politics if they acted as a cohesive entity.

Now you would think that with 250,000 to 500,000 voters up for grabs, the other political parties would be going all out to recruit them into their fold. Apparently that is not something they want to do. In the case of the Democratic Party, it’s easy to see why they aren’t enticing independent voters into their orbit. Their platform features a series of planks that are weaker than a termite-infested two-by-four. When you are advocating for abortion to be used as a method of contraception, gun control and combating climate change by erecting more windmills across the deserts of southern Idaho, you’re a bit out of touch with the values that most Idahoans prefer.

And while the Democrats tell us that the extremists of the Republican party are controlling it, they fail to recognize or admit that the same is happening in their party.

As for the independents wanting to vote in the Republican primary, the question is: Why do you think you have the right to do that? You have no desire to be involved in the grassroots organization of the party. You don’t want to be bothered to participate at the precinct level and you’re not involved in developing, selecting or promoting Republican candidates, but you want to have a voice when it comes to selecting which Republican candidate moves onto the general election in the primary. Where did you get the idea that taking part in the political process is an occasional or casual endeavor?

Our Founding Fathers envisioned an involved and informed citizenry to promote and maintain our republic form of government. People were expected to inform themselves about the issues, develop a viewpoint and select representatives that would enact those desires into law. All of this would be built on the foundation of our federal and state constitutions.

Political parties were formed to debate differing points of views on the issues of the day. The organization of those parties was left up to those citizens who wanted to be a direct participant in the process. In Idaho, since the beginning of our state, there has been no restriction on who could form or be involved in a political party.

As I mentioned May 5, Idaho citizens who identify as independent voters can form their own political party and promote those candidates who will promote their concerns and points of view. And with 250,000-plus voters in that category, you could certainly have an impact on Idaho issues at the state and local level. You are not disenfranchised in any way other than your own self-imposed noninvolvement. Forming a political party is not the easiest thing to do but it is permitted under the Idaho Constitution. If you choose not to take that option, then crying foul during the Republican primary election is your own fault. You have to exercise the responsibility of the involved citizen that our Founding Fathers envisioned.

Changes within the Republican Party should be done by members of that party. They should not be dictated from the outside by dissatisfied members of other parties or affiliations. The OPI is a lazy way to change the current primary system and does nothing to promote the health and strength of our republic through citizen involvement. For that reason alone, it should be voted down this November.

Make a positive change by becoming an active member in a political party, not a casual one.

Hassoldt is a field forester who lives in Kendrick.