In the wake of the mid-term elections of 2010, it seems that most Americans STILL have not learned the futility of our two-party system. We must end it in 2012! by Dale Husband
(liberal)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
There was a time when the American people were not so blindly loyal to their political parties as they are now. During the American Revolution itself, the two opposing factions were the Loyalists who favored the American colonies remaining part of the British Empire, and the Patriots who wanted American independence. The Patriots won and most of those who remained Loyalists fled to Britain or Canada. Then there was another conflict between Federalists, who favored the new U S Constitution, and the anti-Federalists who opposed it. The anti-Federalists lost. The next conflict was between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. Eventually, the Federalists lost and faded away. Then the Whigs rose to challenge the Democratic-Republicans (later, the Democratic Party), but they too failed before the Civil War, to be replaced by the Republicans.
So we had four political factions which died out due to being rejected by the American people: the Loyalists, the anti-Federalists, the Federalists and the Whigs. But ever since the Civil War, the people have been stuck on a see-saw. Whenever they become dissatisfied with Democratic policies, they turn to vote Republican. Then when they are unhappy with Republican policies, they turn back towards the Democrats. Then when they are disappointed with Democratic policies, they go right back to the Republicans. Does this make ANY sense? I think not.
The Republicans led us into war in Iraq in 2003, based on claims regarding that country that turned out to be false. Any party that does that should have been thrown out of power the very next year, but it didn't happen until 2006 and 2008 and the Democrats took over. Now there is a sizable movement to vote the Democrats out of power so the Republicans may take over again? No, there are other options for conservative voters to consider! Such as:
Any one of these should rise to take the place of the Republican Party, which I feel has long outlived its usefulness, and likewise if the Democratic Party fails liberals in the future, they should look at:
And it should be an unwritten rule in American politics from now on that whenever a party is voted out of power, it should NEVER be voted back in! If we took such a stand, maybe we would truly have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Because right now that seems to not be the case!
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Posted By: buildakicker
Date: November 4, 2010 06:30:26 PM
I agree, there is a political see saw. Great wording, however the Dems and Reps have gotten such monopoly on the sheeple, that not many know of the other parties. Think about this, Independents don't know that there is an Independent party. When I talk to folks who say they are independents, I think right away of the AI party, however, they are just taking the middle ground and are into somethings and not other of JUST the 2 parties. I think the best thing is to vote 3rd party, libertarian in my case, and inform others of the 3rd parties! Give them info and make them aware. I think there was a little better 3rd party turn out here in Cali this year.
Oh! I forgot to add that if the WikiLeaks are true, then there was WMD's found in Iraq. Not that I am pro-war at all. Enuff already huh?
Posted By: Spence
Date: November 11, 2010 06:26:44 AM
The "pendulum effect" has been around for ages in American politics. It was only in the last 100 years or so that it really intensified. The reasoning is thus: prior and for a short while after the Progressive Revolution, there were many checks and balances on the two main parties. You had voter fusion, much more reasonable ballot access laws, successful write-in campaigns, and caucuses that weren't mere puppet shows.
The Democrats and Republicans have effectively outlawed or severely curbed the ability of several of these methods to depose them just as they deposed two other political orders. For instance, we are told voter fusion is banned today because it would be too confusing to the modern voter and too unaccountable. Of course, the insinuation here is that the modern voter is somehow less intelligent (well, maybe they're onto something there...) than voters 80 years ago, and that computerized tabulation is -- by their own admission -- not trustworthy enough.
Gone too are the days of insurgent independent candidates grabbing 5-20% of the popular vote. The "bipartisan" Commission on Presidential Debates sees to that.
But there are some signs that this system will come to an end anyway. If the teaparty continues to drive a wedge in the Republican Party, you will increasingly see more moderates jumping ship and running as independents. Most of them will lose, but once the teabagger enthusiasm wanes, it'll be a whole 'nother story. Simply stated, the Republicans cannot continue in their present form with a culturally conservative, middle-class white base. The demographic trends simply will not sustain it, and we are even seeing some liberals being forced to begrudgingly accept latinos, blacks, asians, and even gays as credible Republican candidates.
This will be the first cracks in the current two-party system. This is when there will be a key opportunity to take the remains of the Republican Party wherever you want it to go. Democrats will always be the liberal frontier of American politics. They may even take a more characteristically European stance on many issues. Therefore, infiltrating the Republican party is not the only option, but in the divide between the two hyper-polarized parties in the near future, a moderate libertarian party CAN succeed.
It will NOT be one of the existing third parties. Such parties, ESPECIALLY the Libertarian Party, have wasted several ripe opportunities to effect actual change in the past. I am not suggesting the electorate will become so fragmented that any fringe lunatic party can win. But, a center-left party on social issues, farther-right on economic issues, stands a huge chance for success in the future. You will see.
Posted By: Dale Husband
Date: November 21, 2010 08:47:28 PM
buildakicker claimed: Oh! I forgot to add that if the WikiLeaks are true, then there was WMD's found in Iraq. Not that I am pro-war at all. Enuff already huh?
Oh, really? Do you also think the Earth is flat? You don't get to make such blatantly ludicrous claims from out of nowhere and get away with it. If WMDs were indeed found in Iraq, Bush Jr would have trumpeted the find far and wide. He didn't, so you have libeled Wikileaks.
