The 2008 presidential campaigns are instructing us that citizens will actively utilize alternative means to participate in the political process. Utahns are more than ready to exercise their political rights in a system that reflects their lifestyle while promoting mainstream ideas and candidates. The precinct caucus should be eliminated and placed in the museum of outdated political artifacts, somewhere between paper ballots and LaVarr's brain.

Webb: Utah's oft-criticized election process is rather like democracy itself: It's the worst system in the world — except for all the others.

Generally, the people who like it least are those who can't win — like Frank and his Democratic buddies. If you can't win by playing by the rules then, of course, you want to change the rules.

In truth, Utah's election system works well both for citizens and candidates. It provides just the right mix of direct democracy and influence by people who really care and take time to get involved. Anyone can participate in the process, and all are encouraged to do so. But in the early stages it is those who prove they care, and who sacrifice an evening to get involved, who have disproportionate influence. What's wrong with that?

On the candidate side, the system also works well. It allows someone who isn't well known and who isn't independently wealthy to still have a decent shot at winning an election, provided the candidate is sharp and capable. If Frank had his way, our candidates would almost exclusively be multimillionaires trying to buy elections with 30-second TV sound bites.

As it is, a capable candidate who works extremely hard and has a good message can spend relatively little money and still make his or her case before party caucus attendees and delegates. A candidate of modest means who gets through the convention has then shown enough success that raising money becomes easier for the primary and/or general election.

In Utah, thankfully, the barrier to entry in politics is considerably lower than in states where all candidates go directly to a big, expensive primary election. Those races become high-cost media events where the richest guy usually wins.

I'm not buying Frank's contention that Utah's system is dominated by the extremes. True, the folks who show up at party caucuses are people who care about their state and country, but there are plenty of mainstream people who care a lot.

Point of fact: In 2004, the two gubernatorial candidates who emerged from the GOP state convention were both moderates. Who says the right wing dominates the caucuses and convention?

What's more, so many interest groups try to "stack" the party caucuses — the UEA, PTA, conservatives, Realtors, environmental groups, voucher supporters, banks, credit unions, in addition to candidates at all levels — that it's impossible for one group to dominate.

Our system exemplifies grassroots politics at its finest. No one is excluded. If you want to be a player, attend your party caucus on Tuesday night.

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Republican LaVarr Webb is a political consultant and lobbyist. Previously he was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and a Deseret News managing editor. E-mail: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. Pignanelli served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as House minority leader. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.