NationStates

So as you all know, the United States is probably the only country in the world that has a two-party system. Pretty much everywhere else in the world has a multi-party system, which means multiple political parties are in the country's legislature. i just wanted to know whether you think the US should have more parties in Congress?

United States Of Anto wrote:So as you all know, the United States is probably the only country in the world that has a two-party system. Pretty much everywhere else in the world has a multi-party system, which means multiple political parties are in the country's legislature. i just wanted to know whether you think the US should have more parties in Congress?

Not bad. You might want to add your opinion and why you prefer one system over the other.

Ifreann wrote:Two party system, you say?

I specifically mean the US Congress

Ifreann wrote:Two party system, you say?

Do you think any of those parties will ever elect a president? Only Republicans and Democrats hold any real power, hence “the two party system".

Yes. [/thread]

United States Of Anto wrote:So as you all know, the United States is probably the only country in the world that has a two-party system. Pretty much everywhere else in the world has a multi-party system, which means multiple political parties are in the country's legislature. i just wanted to know whether you think the US should have more parties in Congress?

It's up to the voters, if no one wants a Libertarian Senator or a Green Representative, then it's their choice.

United States Of Anto wrote:

Ifreann wrote:Two party system, you say?

I specifically mean the US Congress

Angus King is not a member of either party. Bernie Sanders wasn't until quite recently, and it's pretty obvious that he only signed up with the Democrats to run for president.

Looks like the House is all currently major party people, but that hasn't always been the case.

Well it certainly hasn't "failed" because it's virtually impossible for a third party to mount a serious challenge, especially at the Federal level.

But, I think our biggest problem has been polarization and radicalization. Bill Clinton was able to work with Newt Gingrich, but something changed in the last 10-15 years where guys like Boehner even shaking hands with the opposite party gets him labeled a traitor and forces him to resign. Guys like Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders show that differences in opinion can exist within either party, but crossover seems to be more impossible by the day between the two.

Unfortunately due to the extreme gerrymandered nature of US Election systems I doubt we're going to see the two party system "fail" any time soon, but if we keep having this level of polarization and gridlock I think we're going to see real problems functioning at all in the future, it's not unprecedented historically, but generally those extremely polarized periods weren't our most pleasant from a government perspective.

Yes, FTP systems are inherently flawed and even moreso with the partisan politics of the US, where voting preference has become a source of personal identity. 2-Party systems are worse than one-party state in as much as they either result in compromise and mediocrity or partisan animosity (as we see in the US) which is fertile ground for manipulation and the rise of plutocracy.

multi-party proportional systems are a better alternative as it invites citizens to actually think and act strategically in their voting and on the other makes parties look to coalition building or earning populor mandates, of course its not perfect and my true preference is for a no-party system.

No. The US two-party system is superior.
The GOP needs superdelegates though.

Yes and no.

The two party system all but guarantees the president of the united states will be from one of two major parties. Success!

However, it all but guarantees that president will not be the best possible candidate. Utter failure.

United States Of Anto wrote:So as you all know, the United States is probably the only country in the world that has a two-party system. Pretty much everywhere else in the world has a multi-party system, which means multiple political parties are in the country's legislature. i just wanted to know whether you think the US should have more parties in Congress?

America doesn't have a "two-party system" so much as a voting system (FPTP) that encourages people to vote in a way that leads typically to two-party dominance.

I am an American, and, yes, I would like to see more major political parties in the US House of Representatives. This would allow for an "incubator effect", and if the Senate is still dominated by the two most powerful parties, there would still be stability over time, which is what the Senate was intended for to begin with.

That won't likely happen until the voting system is changed.

DBJ wrote:No. The US two-party system is superior.
The GOP needs superdelegates though.

Why? Scared of Trump?

No, because the US primaries has proven that obviously there are splinters within both the Democrats and the Republicans. I don't see the need for more parties. The two existing parties are good enough.

The Free Rational City of Rapture wrote:

DBJ wrote:No. The US two-party system is superior.
The GOP needs superdelegates though.

Why? Scared of Trump?

You aren't?

Divitaen wrote:

The Free Rational City of Rapture wrote:Why? Scared of Trump?

You aren't?

Of course not. We will put an end to illegal immigration, companies leaving our country for Slave Labor in China or Mexico, pointless wars in the Middle East, and we will make America great again!

The Free Rational City of Rapture wrote:

Divitaen wrote:
You aren't?

Of course not. We will put an end to illegal immigration, companies leaving our country for Slave Labor in China or Mexico, pointless wars in the Middle East, and we will make America great again!

Wow, ok. Not even sure what to say to that.

Divitaen wrote:

The Free Rational City of Rapture wrote:Of course not. We will put an end to illegal immigration, companies leaving our country for Slave Labor in China or Mexico, pointless wars in the Middle East, and we will make America great again!

Wow, ok. Not even sure what to say to that.

Maybe we should stop the thread jack here.

The Free Rational City of Rapture wrote:

Divitaen wrote:
Wow, ok. Not even sure what to say to that.

Maybe we should stop the thread jack here.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Divitaen wrote:

The Free Rational City of Rapture wrote:Maybe we should stop the thread jack here.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

At least we can both agree that the system is just fine right now.

Divitaen wrote:No, because the US primaries has proven that obviously there are splinters within both the Democrats and the Republicans. I don't see the need for more parties. The two existing parties are good enough.

I wouldn't call Trump and Sanders "splinters within the parties," unless by "splinters" you mean foreign objects that have gotten shoved under the party's skin and are hurting it. They're people from outside the parties that have moved in and tried to hijack them because it's too difficult for them to go start their own party. The establishment politicians have rigged the system (via election funding laws, control of the media, etc.) to make it difficult for 3rd parties to get off the ground, so now they are reaping what they sowed and instead of having smaller parties to compete with they have people trying to tear them down from within their own party.

Ifreann wrote:Two party system, you say?

And check out that Federal Representation breakdown. Voting for a third party is like voting for snoopy, it's an effective way to show politicians you aren't happy but not much else.

The Free Rational City of Rapture wrote:

Ifreann wrote:Two party system, you say?

Do you think any of those parties will ever elect a president? Only Republicans and Democrats hold any real power, hence “the two party system".

That's because of the electoral laws.
If America switched to, let's say, a proportional law with a single nationwide constituency for the House, and a two-rounds direct election for the Presidency (like in France), third parties would get much more chances and the political situation would become more fluid.

Divitaen wrote:No, because the US primaries has proven that obviously there are splinters within both the Democrats and the Republicans. I don't see the need for more parties. The two existing parties are good enough.

good enough for what?