America's 2-Party System
I know I'm not telling most people here something they don't already know, but for those not living in the USA (or for that matter somehow do live in the USA but aren't informed) the Unites States does in fact have many political parties, yet the culture is so ingrained as a 2-party system that it makes winning national elections as something other than Republican or Democrat almost impossible.
I've supported "independent" candidates before but always feel that the vote was "thrown away".
I would love to see a system put in place for voting that is done more like a ranking ("Put in order of most favorite to least favorite" ) then whomever won the populous vote would end up winning... instead of a single "all or nothing" vote for a single candidate.
And dear Zod let's get rid of the outdated Electoral College voting system; we live in day in age where everyone has (or SHOULD have) access to available info about the national candidates and are able to make educated votes... why do we still need the pooled system?
I'm curious what everyone thinks? 2-party system? Voting rankings? Electoral College?
3
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
10 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.
Vote ranking and getting rid of the electoral college would be great. The two party system has a stranglehold on politics in the U.S. and in turn it's corrupt to the core because of corporate money. It's easier to control just two groups. They also have put out tons of propaganda to make themselves look better than they are and make their opponents look worse than they are. They've basically killed any 3rd party or independent competition. Why people can't see this and realize how un-American it is is beyond me. The electoral college was put in place because racist southern politicians needed an advantage because northerners outnumbered southerners.
It is my opinion that founding father James Madison was a royal piece of shit. They set up the country with the illusion that it was for the people.
Not only was he for protecting "the opulent minority against the majority", but that and the Electoral College that he proposed goes against the Constitution and the concept of having majority rule with minority protection.
Piece2YourPuzzle
Level 8
May 18, 2018
0
The 2 party system is not good. I just don't see a way to change it. The electoral college is outdated. Bush and Trump both lost the popular vote and became President. The will of the people is not always the right choice, but that will should matter in the electoral process.
Sticks48
Level 9
May 18, 2018
0
Yes. Proportional representation is much fairer. But our so called democracy is rigged to favour the ruling class.
Ellatynemouth
Level 8
May 18, 2018
2
Independents don't have the following or opportunity that the two main parties have. Any other party dies on the vine.
Marine
Level 8
May 18, 2018
0
You don't think propaganda the 2 main parties put out has something to do with that?
@Piece2YourPuzzle Yes but you cannot fight organization and money which the independents lack.
The "System" is not broken,it was cleverly "Designed" that way.
Coldo
Level 8
May 18, 2018
3
Exactly!
the problem i see with getting rid of the electoral college voting system would cause only a few states to control who is president of united state. that's why we have the electoral college system now. as for 2 party system, its sad it really is a two party system, there is a 3rd party but you waist your vote on it, news won't normally cover them either.. sad really
cobra3282000
Level 6
May 18, 2018
0
It is not the states that would control, it is the population and that is what a democracy is about.
when i say a few states, i mean where the mass population is, basically places like NY state would control verse where states like lets say idaho wouldnt be able to have a fair vote. thats why we have the electoral college, so everyone in every state gets a fair shake. if we goto popular vote, places basically on the east coast and maybe ohio would control who gets to be president every time, they hold the most population compaired to the rest of the united states. now could they change up the numbers each state gets yes, there is some room for changing it around to work a little better, but right now its the best system i can see, i for one like my vote actually meaning something.
also on another note, the united states is not a democracy, its a republic, no where in our bill of rights does it say democracy. everything says republic.. just saying.
@cobra3282000 If I understand you correctly you're saying that the population of certain areas generally good similarly and therefore the larger populated places would control the vote. I think you're discounting the idea that every vote would count. A great example would be in Ohio where I live; the local area was fairly Blue with its vote but because the larger area surrounding mine voted Red the whole state went Red, essentially making the Blue votes meaningless.
I also disagree with thoughts that areas of higher population vote in similar ways; when I lived in NYC there was a HIGH chance the person next to you didn't vote the same way and it's one of the most densely populated areas of the USA.
If every voted counted as opposed to the current electoral college system I think we'd have fewer discussions in the realm of "why did they win the election; the popular vote was clearly with the other person" (a huge reason I know some cynics take the stance that the administrations are already decided well before the charade of elections; a stance I don't take but understand the point)
@WhatsInAName well the opposite happened in washington, seattle (west side of state) is left and the east side of course is right, we loose our electoral votes to the left every time, when we vote for stuff we want to see the west side of the state controls 100 percent.
@cobra3282000 But if the electoral was disbanded and every vote legitimately counted then you'd not have to worry about that
In the UK, we don’t get to vote for the pinnacle.
The queen got the job by being born. She is our head of state.
We elect governments, not leaders. I vote for my MP. The party with most MPs elected decides on their leader, and that is our Prime Minister. Our current PM got the post by not being a front runner, after the front runners stabbed each other in the back.
Regburns
Level 5
May 18, 2018
0
I would agree that the Electoral College should go - it should have prevented an unqualified candidate like Trump winning but it did not - a clear sign that it serves no purpose. I think we need to have a 3rd party for the progressives - the Democratic party is actively working against them.
david7wk
Level 6
May 18, 2018
1
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
Share this post
Categories
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.