| what the hell is wrong with the two party system?
Posted: 6/20/2008 10:49:27 AM |
The Republican party could only come into fruition upon the death of the whig party.
so wait a minute, you mean to tell me my whig party card is expired? god damn it. I guess the 08 stood for 1808.
In truth, a third party solution is perhaps something that America needs right now, if this is to be the case. A 'third way" might really inspire the other two to reflect on their current course.
agreed, but to tell you the truth, I don't care how much the two parties reflect, I won't vote for a republican or a democrat. they have had a strangle hold on us for two long and it's time for them to pay.
We don't want the extremist fringes of the left and right to be joining the 3rd party.. that would not be progress.
I am confused. you would rather have the extremist fringes take over the existing party like they already have? the socialist minded are infesting the democrats just as the religious freaks have already ruined the republican party. | |
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| what the hell is wrong with the two party system?
Posted: 6/20/2008 12:06:38 PM | What most people don't understand is that BOTH political parties have become marginalized. Political consultants have taken away much of the "clout" they once had. Now any interest group with enough money can back a candidate DIRECTLY, and virtually any assistance needed can be obtained through hired guns instead of through thr party itself...
That said, no, as it stands right now, no third party has any real chance. The two major parties have HUGE institutionalized advantages that a third party cannot successfully overcome.
Mark
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| what the hell is wrong with the two party system?
Posted: 6/20/2008 12:23:55 PM | | I think there are a lot of people who feel that the Democratic and Republican parties are too centrist. You've got to be somewhat of a centrist to have a shot at the presidency--it's the elusive "swing voter" group. I don't know if the two party system is a failure. A lot of people seem to want to change it, but it doesn't bother me. Independents can run, too, if they garner enough support, which seems fair to me. | |
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| what the hell is wrong with the two party system?
Posted: 6/20/2008 12:32:53 PM | The problem isn't with the two party system. The problem is with the mindset of the parties, and us. Simply put, we and they don't believe in democracy any more.
Democracy is an ongoing process, a constant Socratic dialog that society carries on with itself. It constantly asks itself questions. It's a never ending search for balance among all the myriad facets of society
Currently, we and the people who represent us don't believe in either questions or balance. We believe in answers and winning.
Answers without questions are useless. And winning means that one particular facet of society has power over all the others. As Washington noted it's a kind of despotism.
Our multiple party system here in Canada suffers from the same problem. | |
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| what the hell is wrong with the two party system?
Posted: 6/23/2008 9:46:38 AM |
so what's the point of forming coalitions? isn't that why the Italian parliament falls apart every few years?
In many European countries coalition governments which last their full term are not unusual. Even Italy has been experiencing more stable governments in recent years.
A system where different parties are forced to work together (and small minority parties get to have a say) has lots of good points although in some countries it does have the effect of making most of them become so alike one another it gets hard to tell them apart. | |
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| what the hell is wrong with the two party system?
Posted: 6/23/2008 9:00:40 PM | | The problem with the 2 party system is very simple. There is very little difference between the parties in terms of the fact that both parties need the same thing to win elections. MONEY! When the present American system came into being there was no mass media that required millions to win elections. With the evolution of the media came the requirement for stockpiling money and where does that money come from? Not from Joe and Mary average American. They come from special interests who have been buying candidates for years. Go back to the wonderful Capra Film, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, and you will see that politics is the same then as it was today and that was over 60 years ago. The system is a system of a lot of promises and when push comes to shove it is the lobbyists who run the country. They purchase politicians the same way that people purchase toothbrushes at Walmart. And then they barter. Congressman X votes for Y's bill which favor's X's lobbyist because at some point Y will call on X to do the same for him. And in the end the profits of the corporations represented by the lobbyists win and the average American loses on gasoline, healthcare or anything else. Where is Jimmy Stewart when you need him? | |
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| what the hell is wrong with the two party system?
Posted: 6/23/2008 9:20:58 PM |  Nothing it means politcains hands are tied in regards to controlling the masses, and American political system works it weeds out smartest people for president, but also weeds out demoaguages from winning the presidental nomination.
America elections are unquie in Europe people vote for the party platform, and not who will lead the country. France and America only western countries I know of where idoits can get elected. Two party system is not rigid in ideology, but they tend to have activists that demand total orthodoxy to the party platform. The house leader Tom Delay as hosue speaker knew the shell game well. You play the gods, guns, glory and then for the statist republicans give them thier govt pork long as vote against gay marriage, and vote in conservative judges.
Democrats are now playing the same game of running candidates that fit the district. Obama is Bush the 2nd so McCain gotta make sure Obama not push polling like Bush did in 2000. Democrats have learned after Dukasias how to make the elections close.
McCain just keep asking Obama for debate on the issuses we know Obama not good with off the cuff debates.
In ten years could see urban ghetto with Republicans that make take on democrats in the district. The key running candidates that fit the district, and allow flexibity on party orthodoxy to ensure majorities in the house. The gerrymander a distirct full of people on welfare you think a democrat would win. Hmmmm, a shwered Karl Rove type will think these lazy people will probadly be social conversvaties most likely, and painting democrats as uber elite is key to winning in any district. | |
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