Primaries: Waste of time or good for American democracy?

Interesting read. While we most often complain about lengthy campaign seasons in this country, this author argues primaries are good for democracy.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/13/heres-why-primaries-are-good-for-democracy/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2ADemocracy%20Lab&utm_campaign=Democracy%20Lab%20Weekly%20Brief%2C%20July%2020%2C%202015#

Presidential primaries can allow more candidates to get their message out. Nixon had become an outsider after losing to Kennedy in'60 and then losing the CA governors race to Pat Brown in '62. Democrats have had Carter, Clinton and Obama who all won their party's nomination after starting out as long shots.

Primaries are like the old college bowl game set up. There are a lot of people making a lot of money with the current system. The Iowa caucus bring in millions of dollars between staff moving in, increased business activity etc. Its like gold rush or oil boom that's scheduled every 4 years and 2 weeks after it's over it's like it never happened.

Well if it weren't for the primaries Bernie wouldn't have a chance against Hillary so I'd say they're a good thing.

Also it will be amusing to watch Trump and the other republicans tear each other apart in the media for awhile.