Softball update: California's "2 past the post" primary system"

Among the softball solutions to the duopoly, changes to the primary election method seem the most promising way to enable more political competition. In 2012, California enacted an electoral reform called the open primary. The method (also used in LA and WA) allows whomever gets the 2 top spots in a primary (regardless of party affiliation) to be the 2 candidates that compete for the office at stake in the general election. 

As much as I applaud any effort to open up the electoral process, this reform only provides the appearance of greater competition. Beyond the awkward possibility of 2 candidates from the same party competing in the general election (which has already occurred), the open primary is flawed in that it assumes only 2 candidates are allowed to compete for 1 seat in the general election. In theory, anyone with enough energy and money can surpass the duopoly in the primary and win as an independent in the general election. However, due to institutional and cultural inertia, there is still too much incentive for only 2 parties to compete for that seat as it simply shifts the overwhelming money advantage of the duopoly from the general election to the primary. In the end, the open primary is limited by the single-member district model as instituted in the 1842 Apportionment Act and subsequent legislation.  

The solution to this conundrum? Ditching the single member district model in favor of proportional representation. This does not require a parliamentary system as there are plenty of ideas on how to create a more fair voting scheme than what we have now. The key will be creating the political will to make such reforms, which we know will not happen as long as the duopoly strangles the process as it is bankrolled by corporate interests. This brings me back to my current position that the best way forward is to amend the constitution to declare that corporations are not people and do not enjoy the same rights as humans. From there, we would have a realistic chance of passing the electoral reforms needed to rebirth our republic.