Personally I dont think that Nader entering the election is a travesty. Personally I wouldnt mind seeing a two term presidency but even so I think that the two party system has outlived its usefullness. America needs a serious multi political party system, simmilar to Israel or the UK. The left is far to rabid and the right has become far to conservative. I dont mind seeing extremists on both sides creating their own party and this would allow a Republican to take up a Democratic issue (prescription drugs) and vis versa (War on Terror) and not be branded a turncoat. I think this country has become to divided and too tuned out due to the two party system. Its the baskin robbins analogy, 31 flavors, more variety more sales, more parties more votes and less people sitting on the sidlines then bitching about who wins an election when they dont even vote.

We do have plenty of parties, just none of them are big. The poblem with third or fourth parties that get big, the big two adopt their principles and pretty much removes the individuality and usefullness of that party.

Originally posted by OXmanK
We do have plenty of parties, just none of them are big. The poblem with third or fourth parties that get big, the big two adopt their principles and pretty much removes the individuality and usefullness of that party.

I know we have hundreds of parties, I was sugessting a serious multi party system with 4 or 5 popular parties.

The problem with multiple parties is our Presedential election system. You must have a majority of the votes, 50% or more. This will be harder and harder to get the more and more parties their are. The problem with establishing a vigorous third party is that it must have roots starting at the local level continuing through state then national levels. This is the reason third parties don't win, they have little local base. Not to mention, most third parties are just parties of a certain issue. These parties tend to dissapate when the specific issue dissapates. I wouldn't personally mind seeing more parties myself, I do agree that we as Americans are to devisive on nearly every issue, the essence of politics is compramise. As for people sitting on the sidelines and bitching when they didn't vote, that will always be cause their will always be lazy, ignorant people .

The country actually doesn't work that bad when we have an executive counter to the Senate and House...

Like a Dem President and a Republican Senate or the other way around. It stalls progress, but at least all the pet projects don't get through like they seem to be under a Republican both. Look beyond the Patriot Act to what's coming...Constitutional Ban on Same Sex and an Arnold Clause to the Constitution.

I just think too much power is terribly corrupting. Chances are a Kerry Presidency will face a Republican senate, and both will be forced moderate.

Our political system should only be two predominant parties. I believe our government will work the best when there is a republican congress and democrat presidency (or vice versa) because it will keep both parties in check and prevent the people in power from becoming too extreme on either end.

My personal dream is for a serious socialist movement/party to emerge in U.K, Europe or united States(not likely) . I think that all partys in the U.S(all pretty much right wing) and U.K(all pretty much useless) are in need of a real opponent, an true socalist apponent.

The two-party system invariably perpetuates itself.

A list of American political parties:

Democratic Party
Republican Party
America First Party
American Party
American Heritage Party
American Independent Party
American Nazi Party
American Reform Party
Christian Falangist Party of America
Communist Party USA
Constitution Party
Constitutional Action Party
Family Values Party
Freedom Socialist Party
Grassroots Party
Green Party
The Greens(The more leftist of the 2 Green Parties)
Independence Party
Independent American Party
Labor Party
Libertarian Party
Light Party
Natural Law Party
New Party
New Union Party
Peace and Freedom Party
Prohibition Party
Reform Party
'The Revolution'
Socialist Party USA
Socialist Action
Socialist Equality Party
Socialist Labor Party
Socialist Worker's Party
Southern Party
Southern Independence Party
US Pacifist Party
We the People Party
Workers World Party
.........................................And those are just the ones that have had members run for public office.

The point of this was to illustrate the bigotry and discrimination present by the 2 party system. As you can see, you have little to no voice or influence because you're not a Demonrat or a Repugnant.

So, the US has those 31 flavors, it's just that the containers are sealed shut with lead on 29 of them. Granted, the lead is starting to break away, but it will still be a long time before we taste the sweetness of a Cone made up of more than 'chocolate or vanilla'.

Interesting Loki. Wasn't there also an Anti-Mason Party, or one known by that name that Adams WON the White House for?

I believe it was Adams that ran on an anti-mason conspiracy platform.

I'm curious to know the evolution of the two current parties. I know that the first Republican president was Lincoln. When did the Democratic party come on the scene. And what ever happened to the Tory and Whig parties? I suppose I could research this but I'm feeling lazy.

Originally posted by RANT
Interesting Loki. Wasn't there also an Anti-Mason Party, or one known by that name that Adams WON the White House for?

I believe it was Adams that ran on an anti-mason conspiracy platform.

Yes, There was something Masonic about Adams' election, I just can't remember what it was exactly right now.

As for the list I've compiled there, it's only a partial one, so I'm sorry if I missed some.

It's just gotten to the point that anyone who wants to have a voice has to label themselves in order to be heard, and that's just sickening, IMHO.