My thougts on the fallacy of a 2 party system in the United States

[Frackal]

In my opinion, one of the most detrimental and limiting
aspects of American politics is the 2-party dominant
situation we currently have.

Let me explain:

Study of human nature tells us that when someone joins
or considers themselves a part of a 'group,' they will
take up a defensive posture in favor of the group to
which they belong.

This human trait expresses itself in what I consider to
be an extremely deleterious way in our political system:

Ideally, the American populace would focus on issues as
issues, and politicians as politicians. Corruption
punished and work done well rewarded.

Not so with the current system. (Predominantly) when
someone identifies themselves with the democratic or
republican parties, they will focus more on defending
their "group's" policies, no matter how obvious a
failure they are; they will try to minimize the severity
of corruption among their own ranks, while obsessively
slandering members of the other side.

This is called a "divide and conquer" phenomenon and is
only beneficial to the power elite.

Imagine a group of angry citizens standing outside a
Senate building, with the Senate members, dems and
repubs alike standing on a balcony above to address the
angry populace. (which are roughly 50% democrat, 50%
republican.)

The citizens are furious about some aspect, say, the
economic situation in the country, which is, in reality
partially due to failure of both party's policies.
(something that should be apparent to everyone)

The Senators take turns giving speeches, each side
blaming the other. The crowd in turn gets riled, and
begin arguing amongst themselves, democrats blaming
corrupt republican leaders and bad polices, and
republicans claiming it's the fault of dishonest
democrats and poor strategies.

The populace is thus, once again distracted from taking
an effective, objective approach to the problem, and the
Senators are now free to continue their wayward methods;
safe, because the citizenry is so busy arguing back and
forth, they fail to see the forest through the trees,
that the corruption is throughout.

 

[HS Lifter]

*Golf Clap*

j/k

 

[ZKaudio]

 

[Frackal]

LOL!

 

[Hangfire]

In my opinion, one of the most detrimental and limiting
aspects of American politics is the 2-party dominant
situation we currently have.

Let me explain:

Study of human nature tells us that when someone joins
or considers themselves a part of a 'group,' they will
take up a defensive posture in favor of the group to
which they belong.

This human trait expresses itself in what I consider to
be an extremely deleterious way in our political system:

Ideally, the American populace would focus on issues as
issues, and politicians as politicians. Corruption
punished and work done well rewarded.

Not so with the current system. (Predominantly) when
someone identifies themselves with the democratic or
republican parties, they will focus more on defending
their "group's" policies, no matter how obvious a
failure they are; they will try to minimize the severity
of corruption among their own ranks, while obsessively
slandering members of the other side.

This is called a "divide and conquer" phenomenon and is
only beneficial to the power elite.

Imagine a group of angry citizens standing outside a
Senate building, with the Senate members, dems and
repubs alike standing on a balcony above to address the
angry populace. (which are roughly 50% democrat, 50%
republican.)

The citizens are furious about some aspect, say, the
economic situation in the country, which is, in reality
partially due to failure of both party's policies.
(something that should be apparent to everyone)

The Senators take turns giving speeches, each side
blaming the other. The crowd in turn gets riled, and
begin arguing amongst themselves, democrats blaming
corrupt republican leaders and bad polices, and
republicans claiming it's the fault of dishonest
democrats and poor strategies.

The populace is thus, once again distracted from taking
an effective, objective approach to the problem, and the
Senators are now free to continue their wayward methods;
safe, because the citizenry is so busy arguing back and
forth, they fail to see the forest through the trees,
that the corruption is throughout.

Are you the author? Amongst? Thus? LMFAO!!
Maybe we'd have more dominant parties if the POPULACE (LMAO again) wanted them. The Greens are kooks. Independents are just non-committals who wait to see which way the wind is blowing on any given issue, except for Bernie Sanders--he's a Communist, but doesn't make any bones about it.

I can guess that the solution (as if we needed one) is to force participation of fringe political parties. In politics, as in most other aspects of life, people get what they deserve.

 

[spentagn]

Several books have been written on this topic. If you haven't already, I suggest you pick up a couple. I had to read one for a class in college, but I can't remember the title.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

good thoughts...good to see the brain working. Not the deepest analysis I have ever read though.

Think consequences.

The books you can read on it ar invariably biased. Read them and sleep.

 

[argent]

Barry Sanders is a communist? WTF?

Can you suggest some titles of these books?

 

[spentagn]

good thoughts...good to see the brain working. Not the deepest analysis I have ever read though.

Think consequences.

The books you can read on it ar invariably biased. Read them and sleep.

By nature a book will be biased.

There are also some out there that praise the two party system. It can be seen as a safeguard against "undesirable participation" in the system.

Yet another reason why it isn't "easy" to vote in Fed elections.

 

[atlantabiolab]

Re: Re: My thougts on the fallacy of a 2 party system in the United States

Are you the author? Amongst? Thus? LMFAO!!
Maybe we'd have more dominant parties if the POPULACE (LMAO again) wanted them. The Greens are kooks.

The Greens are eco-socialists. Anti-industrialists, anti-intellectuals, pro-agrarian primitives.

Independents are just non-committals who wait to see which way the wind is blowing on any given issue, except for Bernie Sanders--he's a Communist, but doesn't make any bones about it.

Yep.

I can guess that the solution (as if we needed one) is to force participation of fringe political parties. In politics, as in most other aspects of life, people get what they deserve.

Very true. Everyone who argues for a multi-party system doesn't realize or doesn't want to acknowledge that we have a mutli-party system. You cannot force people to become involved with the political process, nor can you force people into parties that they do not want. Therefore, all of the suggestions for increasing awareness of the lesser parties are generally by way of force or restriction. Why should the Democratic and Republican Parties not be able to spend as much as they wish on campaigns? To restrict their opportunities or grant money to lesser parties is to burden unfairly the abilities of the individuals. Would we ever force an Olympic runner to wear lead lined shoes because he is physically superior to the other competitors? No, competition is an unbalanced process, and attempting to balance it is unfair.

Politics is about ideas. People need to have a basis of knowledge from which to work from to make informed and correct decisions. The blatant ignorance, stemming from numerous causes, of the common man will perpetuate his voting for the party that promises him the most for the least, no matter if it is Democrat, Republican, Green, Socialist, etc.

 

[Code]

Give props to the author.

 

[Tiervexx]

In my opinion, one of the most detrimental and limiting
aspects of American politics is the 2-party dominant
situation we currently have.

Let me explain:

Study of human nature tells us that when someone joins
or considers themselves a part of a 'group,' they will
take up a defensive posture in favor of the group to
which they belong.

This human trait expresses itself in what I consider to
be an extremely deleterious way in our political system:

Ideally, the American populace would focus on issues as
issues, and politicians as politicians. Corruption
punished and work done well rewarded.

Not so with the current system. (Predominantly) when
someone identifies themselves with the democratic or
republican parties, they will focus more on defending
their "group's" policies, no matter how obvious a
failure they are; they will try to minimize the severity
of corruption among their own ranks, while obsessively
slandering members of the other side.

This is called a "divide and conquer" phenomenon and is
only beneficial to the power elite.

Imagine a group of angry citizens standing outside a
Senate building, with the Senate members, dems and
repubs alike standing on a balcony above to address the
angry populace. (which are roughly 50% democrat, 50%
republican.)

The citizens are furious about some aspect, say, the
economic situation in the country, which is, in reality
partially due to failure of both party's policies.
(something that should be apparent to everyone)

The Senators take turns giving speeches, each side
blaming the other. The crowd in turn gets riled, and
begin arguing amongst themselves, democrats blaming
corrupt republican leaders and bad polices, and
republicans claiming it's the fault of dishonest
democrats and poor strategies.

The populace is thus, once again distracted from taking
an effective, objective approach to the problem, and the
Senators are now free to continue their wayward methods;
safe, because the citizenry is so busy arguing back and
forth, they fail to see the forest through the trees,
that the corruption is throughout.

Great post. I am really sick seeing people buy into the propaganda of one party.

 

[Frackal]

I'm the author, it was something I had to write last night at 1am for a PS class...that's why it's phrased a bit melodramatically...teachers like that kind of thing.

I wouldn't suggest forcing multiple parties, my argument is simply for an idealogical shift that would result in more choices.

 

[Tiervexx]

I would just love it if a libertarian party became influential...

 

[juiceddreadlocks]

good thoughts...good to see the brain working. Not the deepest analysis I have ever read though.

Think consequences.

The books you can read on it ar invariably biased. Read them and sleep.

you must be a good will hunting fan? eh?