Advantages to our 'two party' system? (extremist, lobbyist, lobby, parties)

[SoLongTexas]

Must be something in there that's good, right? We've made it this far...

I think slowing down and gridlock, which everyone seems to hate, may actually be a benefit.
Keeps the country lumbering along and stops wild swings of power and influence.

Anyways, trying to think of the positives...

[afoigrokerkok]

Let's say you have parties ranging from liberal to conservative - parties "A" to "E."

In an election Party A's candidate gets 15% of the vote, B 25%, C 24%, D 8%, and E 28%.

You are a socialist so you vote for Party A's candidate. However, assuming a plurality = a win, Party E won. You'd be much happier with Party B or C than the ultra-conservative Party E (and so would most voters likely due to the spread of votes) but you socialists are stuck with them.

This problem could be solved partially, but likely not entirely, with runoff or, more so, instant runoff voting. However, there would be other problems in terms of actual votes on legislation, appointments, etc. with parties voting for/against legislation for different reasons. Due to this, coalitions would form and it would naturally flow back to an essentially two-party system. But the majority's views may not really be represented in the meantime (though whether they are or aren't already is certainly debatable).

[mkpunk]

There have typically been two parties in the US government. The democratic-republicans and federalists started while Washington was in office as president. After that you had the Whigs which were the start of conservative politics after the federalists slowly died after Alexander Hamilton got killed by Aaron Burr in their famous duel. Then in the 1850s the Republicans and Democrats became their own parties and we have stayed that way since then.

I think it is good, can be better but besides Presidents, the public hates moderates and rather go towards the extremes. This is the case with the TEA Party they are not just conservatives but extremist even libertarian leaning and claim that moderate republicans are RINOs. As someone that would be a moderate republican, I hate that but what can you do unless the tea party or moderate republicans wanted to create a new party just for themselves.

[Swingblade]

The two party system keeps the lobbyist well clothed and fed.

[pnwmdk]

We do not have a two party system.

There are many parties. They have tried, over the years, to use law and policy to block anyone else, but our political system is not party based, like the communists of old.

In fact, party is irrelevant to our electoral system and government function.