Why we are stuck with two political parties. It's rigged that way.

Twilight Hue · Oct 8, 2019

Why America Is Stuck With Only Two Parties

The sad part of it all is this....

https://joinsam.org/blog/61-americans-want-see-new-political-party-where-it

It's almost like a dictatorship of the two parties where no competition is allowed.

You think there is any chance of a bona fide third party ever happening?

Shiranui117 · Oct 8, 2019

Nowhere Man said:
Why America Is Stuck With Only Two Parties

The sad part of it all is this....

https://joinsam.org/blog/61-americans-want-see-new-political-party-where-it

It's almost like a dictatorship of the two parties where no competition is allowed.

You think there is any chance of a bona fide third party ever happening?

Not as long as winner-take-all states exist. Split delegates are the only way to make it viable.

Ouroboros · Oct 8, 2019

Nowhere Man said:
You think there is any chance of a bona fide third party ever happening?

Don't think so. I wish, so we had more options, but it's probably not going to happen. It's bigger chance we'll end up with one party rather than three.

sun rise · Oct 8, 2019

There are a number of "third" parties here in California who are on the ballot each time. Per the League of Women Voters:

One problem is that with the current system people who vote for a third-party are correctly accused most of the time as "throwing their vote away". Or they sometimes influence the outcome, Nader in 2000, for example, but only as a spoiler.

It would take a political "tsunami" to have a new party get to a serious level of contention especially given the Electoral College which helps perpetuate the two parties.

But the other extreme is not helpful either. For example the mess in Israel where there are about as many political parties as there are voters (exaggeration to be sure) and building a coalition government is a massive problem.

Ouroboros · Oct 8, 2019

sun rise said:
There are a number of "third" parties here in California who are on the ballot each time. Per the League of Women Voters:

I voted for a third party (live in California) last election. Couldn't stand either major candidates.

One problem is that with the current system people who vote for a third-party are correctly accused most of the time as "throwing their vote away". Or they sometimes influence the outcome, Nader in 2000, for example, but only as a spoiler.

I hate that argument. That argument is forcing everyone into the two-ditch thinking. In California you practically throw away your vote whatever you vote for. Democrats always win here. I choose to vote for what I believe in and which candidate of all the other ones I think would be best, regardless if it's a "throw away".

Revoltingest · Oct 8, 2019

Shiranui117 said:
Not as long as winner-take-all states exist. Split delegates are the only way to make it viable.

And for state government representative elections, we need
"at large" voting, rather than voting by district. Then 3rd
parties could win a candidate or 2, getting a foot in the door.
Plurality-at-large voting - Wikipedia

Sunstone · Oct 8, 2019

Nowhere Man said:
You think there is any chance of a bona fide third party ever happening?

Very, very unlikely under a presidential system with first past the gate voting. We would need to go to a different voting system to have much chance of it.

Howard Is · Oct 8, 2019

Nowhere Man said:
It's almost like a dictatorship of the two parties where no competition is allowed.

There are two kinds of people in this world....those who believe there are two kinds of people, and the statistically irrelevant.

Stevicus · Oct 8, 2019

Nowhere Man said:
Why America Is Stuck With Only Two Parties

The sad part of it all is this....

https://joinsam.org/blog/61-americans-want-see-new-political-party-where-it

It's almost like a dictatorship of the two parties where no competition is allowed.

You think there is any chance of a bona fide third party ever happening?

I suppose it could happen with enough money and a few big name celebrities.

MikeDwight · Oct 8, 2019

Can we be honest, most three-party runs of significance have been Dixie candidates , and they tend to gather those electorates just for show. We're at a bargaining table.

Subduction Zone · Oct 8, 2019

The OP's topic raises another valid argument against the electoral vote system.

Howard Is · Oct 8, 2019

Stevicus said:
I suppose it could happen with enough money and a few big name celebrities.

Yeah, let’s be honest and acknowledge that democracy really means Cult of Personality.
Imagine...the Kardashians holding power in the Senate, trying to control POTUS Vin Diesel.

MikeDwight · Oct 8, 2019

The only thing honoring the original process is the electoral system, since the first elections didn't involve the voter when the electoral college met from the states. Well the government has taken on More service roles as well as a fixation of our 'powers' over others.

Guitar's Cry · Oct 9, 2019

In Maine we recently started using ranked choice voting: Ranked voting - Wikipedia

It appeared to be unpopular with conservatives, who used the slogan "One person, one vote."

Shiranui117 · Oct 9, 2019

Revoltingest said:
And for state government representative elections, we need
"at large" voting, rather than voting by district. Then 3rd
parties could win a candidate or 2, getting a foot in the door.
Plurality-at-large voting - Wikipedia

Oddly enough, I find district-level voting to be the best chance for new parties to get a foot in the door. Third parties like the Greens and Libertarians are generally only popular within certain counties in a state, where the local priorities align with those of the aforementioned parties.

Revoltingest · Oct 9, 2019

Shiranui117 said:
Oddly enough, I find district-level voting to be the best chance for new parties to get a foot in the door. Third parties like the Greens and Libertarians are generally only popular within certain counties in a state, where the local priorities align with those of the aforementioned parties.

It hasn't worked that way here.
But if a district has enuf votes for a 3rd party,
Imagine how much more power they'd have
if all districts could combine their votes.

Earthtank · Oct 9, 2019

Nowhere Man said:
Why America Is Stuck With Only Two Parties

The sad part of it all is this....

https://joinsam.org/blog/61-americans-want-see-new-political-party-where-it

It's almost like a dictatorship of the two parties where no competition is allowed.

You think there is any chance of a bona fide third party ever happening?

Because America is a corrupt country with a broken system

Why we are stuck with two political parties. It's rigged that way.

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.

Shiranui117

Pronounced Shee-ra-noo-ee

Ouroboros

Coincidentia oppositorum

sun rise

The world is on fire

Ouroboros

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Revoltingest

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Sunstone

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Howard Is

Lucky Mud

Stevicus

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MikeDwight

Well-Known Member

Subduction Zone

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Howard Is

Lucky Mud

MikeDwight

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Guitar's Cry

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Shiranui117

Pronounced Shee-ra-noo-ee

Revoltingest

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Earthtank

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