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I never thought of it before living abroad for years and years, but the US "two party" system is in some ways almost as curious (and paradoxical) as many "one party democracies" on the African continent.
Why haven't more parties been established (or why have the few that have tried been ignored), along the lines with many European democracies?
I believe England mainly was a two-party country for many years.
I always enjoy reading Charles Dickens writing about the two-party system in Pickwick Papers. Here is an excerpt for your enjoyment (talking about Mr. Pickwick going to a small town, Eatanswill, to observe an election):
"It appears, then, that the Eatanswill people, like the people of many other small towns, considered themselves of the utmost and most mighty importance, and that every man in Eatanswill, conscious of the weight that attached to his example, felt himself bound to unite, heart and soul, with one of the two great parties that divided the town—the Blues and the Buffs.
Now the Blues lost no opportunity of opposing the Buffs, and the Buffs lost no opportunity of opposing the Blues; and the consequence was, that whenever the Buffs and Blues met together at public meeting, town–hall, fair, or market, disputes and high words arose between them. With these dissensions it is almost superfluous to say that everything in Eatanswill was made a party question. If the Buffs proposed to new skylight the market–place, the Blues got up public meetings, and denounced the proceeding; if the Blues proposed the erection of an additional pump in the High Street, the Buffs rose as one man and stood aghast at the enormity. There were Blue shops and Buff shops, Blue inns and Buff inns—there was a Blue aisle and a Buff aisle in the very church itself.
Of course it was essentially and indispensably necessary that each of these powerful parties should have its chosen organ and representative: and, accordingly, there were two newspapers in the town—the Eatanswill Gazette and the Eatanswill Independent; the former advocating Blue principles, and the latter conducted on grounds decidedly Buff.
Fine newspapers they were. Such leading articles, and such spirited attacks!—‘Our worthless contemporary, the Gazette’—‘That disgraceful and dastardly journal, the Independent’—‘That false and scurrilous print, the Independent’—‘That vile and slanderous calumniator, the Gazette;’ these, and other spirit–stirring denunciations, were strewn plentifully over the columns of each, in every number, and excited feelings of the most intense delight and indignation in the bosoms of the townspeople."
I have frequently cited this passage in previous threads when applicable, especially when it is obvious that either the Democrats or the Republicans were opposing something proposed by the opposite party, just for the sake of opposing.
It's simple arithmetic. The electoral college system, which requires a vote of 50% plus one to elect a president, nearly forces a two-party system. Yes, lower offices can be elected with less than 50% of the vote, but the presidency can't - a president who gets less than 50% of the popular vote still must get 50% plus one of the electoral vote, and it's the electoral vote that counts. This effect cascades downwards.
In Great Britain and similar democracies, multiple parties can act as a coalition to elect a prime minister. But that prime minister's administration will fall apart if the government runs into a crisis that shatters the coalition. This can put a prime minister into a politically shaky position in a crisis, right when a government needs to be the strongest. The founders wrote the Constitution to form "a more perfect union", i.e. one that established a stronger federal government than did the Articles of Confederation. And they thought that a majority-vote president was part of ensuring that stronger federal administration.
If you look closely at the Ds and Rs, you can see that each is actually a coalition (more or less) united under a single banner. In a multi-party system, these internal factions would likely not hold together as a single party.
There is no two party system. We have two parties that have hijacked the system. And the presidential nominee does not have to get 50% of the vote or 50% of the electors. It simply goes to a vote among representatives of each state.
There is no two party system. We have two parties that have hijacked the system. And the presidential nominee does not have to get 50% of the vote or 50% of the electors. It simply goes to a vote among representatives of each state.
So true. 2 heads on the same beast. It really doesn't matter which head you feed, the beast will thrive. The good cop bad cop routine they pull is so transparent and yet the suckers buy into it.
So true. 2 heads on the same beast. It really doesn't matter which head you feed, the beast will thrive. The good cop bad cop routine they pull is so transparent and yet the suckers buy into it.
I refuse to vote for an D or R candidate. I get flack from democrats and republicans saying I am helping the other side. Its hard to reason with people who are brainwashed.
I refuse to vote for an D or R candidate. I get flack from democrats and republicans saying I am helping the other side. Its hard to reason with people who are brainwashed.
Me too. Even on here you see people accuse others of helping Trump win by voting 3rd party or a write in.
Ill vote D or R if they put someone up who is worthy of a vote.
Sanders or Hillary? Daaaaamn.
Trump or Cruz>. Daaaamn.
Trump or Hillary? WTF.
The US is governed by a corrupt duopoly controlled by special interests in cahoots with the mainstream media, which acts as their auxiliary.
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