For those of us with even a passing interest in politics, events unfolding in the US are amazing.
For years, American politics has been written off as the preserve of the rich and well connected. Yet, the primary contests have been marked by an upsurge in involvement by ordinary voters, and participation rates are double what they were four years ago.
So what's going on – and does it have implications here in Britain?
Well for one, it shows all those professional Cassandras that there is nothing inherently flawed in the role of political parties, and proposals to replace elected politicians with self-appointed ‘citizens' are not necessarily the most progressive response.
Second, the American primaries indicate the ability of parties to reflect the public mood and, with the right candidates and policies, to renew politics and democracy.
So, could it happen here? Well, if it does, we all have to change our attitude to politics and specifically, to the financing of our political parties.
The last 10 years have seen a fundamental change in the relationship between voters and parties in America, with far more donations coming from individuals, and a willingness to see political donations as part of the ‘price of democracy'.
Yet, if we continue on our present route of public denunciation of anyone who donates to political parties and put more restrictions on their activities and fundraising, all we will achieve is their emasculation with more influence to high-profile, single-issue organisations, and hidden lobbyists.
We may not want to see the huge expenditures of American elections but, if we want political parties to be more inclusive and responsive to the wider public at local and national level, we can no longer have our politics on the cheap.
Transparency yes, but not penury. 

Paul Wheeler is director of the Political Skills Forum