Are There 2 Main Political Parties, or is There One Main Political Party that Happens to Have 2 Names? (Congress, Reagan)

[CornerstoneEagle04]

When you think about it, the Democratic and Republican parties have a lot in common. They both use similar tactics, promote people who say they want what's best for the people without really knowing what's best for the people, and put more emphasis on charisma and charm than content of character.

I am beginning to believe that we, as a nation are heading toward a one-party system. This won't come to fruition overnight (and hopefully never will), but the possibility is there.
What say you?

[NewToCA]

I see plenty of differences, and don't view it as a single party whatsoever.

Look at the scoring of senators by party, the differences are pretty clear:

http://www.acuratings.org/2006senate.htm (broken link)

[Floridabound09]

Yes there a major differences within the parties, but I see a message that the PEOPLE are forcing change somewhat. I covered this in the poll I had posted.
Cannot yet put a finger on it but I believe there is a movement of people forcing changes to be more towards the middle.
The parties themselves and the elected officals seem to have not realized that its the people who run the country and not them.

[evilnewbie]

I guess I am the one who doesn't see a difference between the two parties anymore. They used to be really opposite but now they are pretty much the same with one leaning more right and the other leaning more left but basically have the same ideals.... corruption...

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

Yes there a major differences within the parties, but I see a message that the PEOPLE are forcing change somewhat. I covered this in the poll I had posted.
Cannot yet put a finger on it but I believe there is a movement of people forcing changes to be more towards the middle.
The parties themselves and the elected officals seem to have not realized that its the people who run the country and not them.

If you look at the candidates from the late 1940's through the late 1970's, you'll see candidates and Congressional and Senate leaders who weren't that different in political view. This changed substantially thanks to Reagan and Gingrich, and we had a lot more friction and differences, a postive discussion and evaluation in my view. I think that we have some narrowing of the difference again, although perhaps not back to the days of Jacob Javits, Hugh Scott, Birch Bayh and Henry Jackson.

[JMX]

There aren't really two parties. There are just two wings of the one Washington Party. The so-called differences between them are used to keep people busy debating things as a distraction. Meanwhile, the Democrats and the Republicans work together quietly behind the scenes for their real agenda: money and power.

[TnHilltopper]

There has always been just one party in America. The green party

[bohnen]

what are the two main polictical parties

[FutureBrennanDad]

I think the one party would be Special Interest. Both Dems and Republicans are bending over for them and not us. There is a great grassroots movement called GOOOH (get out of our house) to try and take back the house. I would be so happy if the people we elected would have enough of a moral compass to not go back on their promises the minute they go to DC.

[GregW]

I have heard them referred to as "the right and left wings of the American Property Party" (Utah Phiollips). Both are more concerned with protecting existing wealth and both are disinterested in expanding the economy to allow the lower income levels to ever accumulate anything but debt.