What is the problem with American politics?

[Kelinfort]

Every legislature and Parliament has it's detractors, but it seems as though the United States is the laughing stock of the world when it comes to government. The gridlock is so appalling that cloture measures, colloqiually known as the filibuster, have become common even for nominees of government positions. This begs the question what is wrong with American politics. Personally, I feel it's the fact the United States has only two parties: a center right and a center far right party. The policies President Obama supports and campaigned on are consistent with a center right party in the UK or Canada. The House, it would seem, is unwilling to accept compromise in their favour. I want to know: what do you think NSG?

[Gallup]

A little bit of all of them.

[Destiny Island]

Partisanship.

[Kelinfort]

Partisanship.

The truth is the parties aren't even that different in practice.

[ShadowDragons]

Well, compared to other nations America's politics are awesome and a city on a hill. The gridlock between parties isn't getting anything done, but these times are the times we pay for are great democracy.

[Destiny Island]

Partisanship.

The truth is the parties aren't even that different in practice.

Well, it's still a duck season rabbit season dilemma.

[Ostroeuropa]

Not unique to the US:

How it always happens:
Left wing governments that represent the people get elected.
They give into unions so much that stupid shit begins that is incredibly wasteful and incredibly corrupt. All sectors become unionized including unions of bureaucrats.
Then, partially in desperation, society turns to an ultra-capitalist from the "right" party who isn't afraid of the unions or their own party, and is competent enough to dominate their party which has become filled with spineless people or union shills. Expect a radical shift to the right, and lots of strikes / national strikes.
These governments will usually face massive internal party problems if they begin taking on the unions of the government employees, because of the revolving door between this section and the party members of parliament etc.
The "left" party then, begins to enter a panic after losing so many elections and begins to turn to people who are good at getting elected even if it means sacrificing ideals. Eventually, the culture of the "left" party is based soleyly around winning the election. Not for any particular purpose, just win the election and rearrange deckchairs on the titanic back and forth, an inch to the left, an inch to the right, etc.
Without a party to represent them except (Nominally) the left wing party, the working classes either decide not to vote, waste their votes and give up, or just continually vote for the "Left" party.
The Left party has by this time realized that the working class demographic is assured, and will dash to the centre ground to win over the middle classes and pander to them exclusively. You will even see them disavow socialism and advocate for third way economics at this point in an effort to secure the middle class vote.
This usually succeeds, as the right wing is incredibly unpopular by now due to the stress this process causes the country (mass strikes etc.)
At this point, we have a political party absolutely dedicated to giving the middle class whatever it wants and a party that is devoted to ideological conservative capitalism.
We either stay precisely where we are, or shift to the right. Those are your options now.
Because of this, the "Left" wing party will become "the party of power" and remain in office for decades at a time.


We have two sets of people now.

Ideological Conservative Capitalists party (Anyone can be one of these if they are conservative capitalist.)
The Middle Class Party (At least we're not ideological conservative capitalists. Everyone who isn't ICC will vote for this party.)

[Norstal]

Partisanship.

The truth is the parties aren't even that different in practice.

So what's RINOs, DINOs, Tea Party, Democrat Conservatives, etc.?

Isn't difference IN the party matter more than differences BETWEEN parties?

[Gallup]

The truth is the parties aren't even that different in practice.

So what's RINOs, DINOs, Tea Party, Democrat Conservatives, etc.?

Isn't difference IN the party matter more than differences BETWEEN parties?

Shhhhhh... We can't say anything that goes against the anti-American circle jerk.

[The Nihilistic view]

It's politics.

[Ifreann]

Partisanship.

The truth is the parties aren't even that different in practice.

That's not so much the truth as it is a popular lie.

[L Ron Cupboard]

The way political campaigns are funded.

[Quintium]

The same thing that's wrong in all of the western world. There are two main sides, and both serve only themselves and their closest friends.
EDIT: Oh, and they buy elections by spending enormous amounts of money they don't have (War on Terror, Obamacare).

[Big Jim P]

Mouth-breathing idiots electing slightly smarter, but less honest, mouth-breathing idiots.

[Cetacea]

Americans

[Mallaska]

Dunce politicians elected by a majority of dunces with two dunce parties that can't agree on anything.

[Minarchist States]

There are third parties...

[Ifreann]

There are third parties...

They're just of no consequence on the national level.

[Oaledonia]

Americans

That's cute.

[Magna Libero]

Third parties are mutually ignored by practically speaking everyone and the government itself, which promotes stupidity. Something like that.

[Arcturus Novus]

Pretty much everything except its first twenty-ish years of leadership.

[Trezchoix]

Heavy mixture of all and uninformed voters.

[The Uncompromising Purveyors of Light]

The fact that all the political parties are in fact controlled by Queen Elizabeth II.

[Fireye]

Americans

That's cute.

It's not exactly wrong.

[Arcturus Novus]

Heavy mixture of all and uninformed voters.

This is also very true.