Why primaries aren't democratic

In a Slate article published on April 20, William Saletan argues that both major parties are doing what they're meant to do: pick candidates that best represent them. He first questions whether Trump and Sanders are even loyal to their respective parties and then states that both of them are winning contents through various party mechanisms (winner-take-all systems and caucuses) that often misrepresent how votes would have been cast in a proportional primary.

He closes:

"Why should the Democratic Party cater to a candidate who won’t commit to the party? And why should the Republican Party support a candidate who doesn’t support half of its platform? In choosing a nominee, a party has two logical priorities. One is to pick someone who can get elected. The other is to make sure that the nominee is loyal to the party and its beliefs. Otherwise, the party becomes just a vehicle for personal ambition. The party has no obligation to make its nomination process unbiased, democratic, or open to all voters. That’s the job of the general election.

So don’t cry for Trump or Sanders. Like anybody else, they can run for president in the fall. For now, the candidates are seeking the nominations of the two major parties. And it’s the parties—state committees, superdelegates, and all—that get to choose the process and the candidates that will represent them best."