I wouldn’t go so far as to say the two party system is to blame, but it’s a system that lends itself to being manipulated. In point of fact, Karl Rove figured it out and changed American politics, maybe forever. Pre-Rove the candidates would appeal to their base during the primaries and then move more to the center during the general election. This resulted in what people call positive voting, or voting for someone because you actually like them and their platform. Rove figured out it’s way more effective to stay far right (in his case) during the general election. Then you rally your base by spewing fear and hatred. Not just negative ads, but actually saying America will be doomed if the other person is elected. This causes greater voter turnout and sways elections. This type of voting is called negative voting. You’re not voting, for example, Trump because you like him. You voted for him because you hate Hillary.
We saw the reverse during the midterms. People voted against republicans because they hate Trump, not for their democrat candidate because they liked them (generally speaking).
The two party system is the logical conclusion of first past the post voting. Parties in power gerrymander districts to further the problem and 3rd party votes only act as a spoiler for the candidate they are most like from the 2 main parties. It is no surprise that voter turnout is so low.
" There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution." – John Adams
In general I agree with you and GOAB, but the problem I have is I don’t see any examples of systems that work better. There are many of examples of dysfunctional devoloped countries with multi-party systems…dysfunctional developed country with pluralistic voting, etc. That’s why I think this not the main issue. My favorite bogeyman is money – the root of all evil. The reason we seem limited to 2 parties only is a byproduct of money in politics; big money donors get a higher ROI when there are fewer options. The tipping point is close though, 30% of American are now independent. I left the republican party for independent after trump elected, I bet i am not alone.
lol this shut down is great. it seems trump is getting all the credit. i wonder who breaks first, trump, the dems, or the 800,000 people without a paycheck.
THE GREATEST DEAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY BY THE GREATEST DEAL MAKER
In order of MAGA:
CHINA TRADE DEAL
Louisiana Purchase
Alaska Purchase
(Bloomberg) –
China has offered to go on a six-year buying spree to ramp up imports from the U.S., in a move that would reconfigure the relationship between the world’s two largest economies, according to officials familiar with the negotiations.
By increasing goods imports from the U.S. by a combined value of more than $1 trillion over that period, China would seek to reduce its trade surplus – which last year stood at $323 billion – to zero by 2024, one of the people said. The officials asked not to be named as the discussions aren’t public.
Stuff like this actually concerns me. Trump being an idiot is one thing, but ignoring national security experts and just doing his own thing is straight-up dangerous.
