Hey please weigh in. Please only people that can see the future

[4 t 4]

not two parties
many, many parties. Let's get rid of the two party system all together. It is nothing but damaging to us all. We have gone beyond that Now. You should have to stand on your Own Two Feet with your ideals. It damages us all the two party system, we have gone Way Beyound That. People born into a Republican party continue to vote Republican Dems into Dems etc.. No Party anymore, just issues and while we are at it ,it no longer makes sense to have ONE man in charge of it all. The job is way, way to big. How about domestic and international? Any Ideas? Go ahead I am way out there , but think about it, it makes sense. I have been saying this for years. I don't care if you agree, I am on to something and I know it.

[kansasblue]

1. I don't believe the framers intended for two parties to take such control.

I like other countries where minority parties can get in the government and you need to build collations.

Imagine 15 Green member in congress, 5 Libertarians, etc.

[HeresyLives]

3. Imagine pizza parliaments

like Italy and Israel where nothing ever gets done because the government keeps arguing and falling.

[Warpy]

5. I was going to point to Israel

as a shining example of what happens when a largish party has to woo a lot of little splinter parties in order to form a majority coalition government. You get a lot of real nutcases and fringers dictating terms most of the people in the country don't want.

Yes, the two party system has a lot of flaws, but it's also been remarkably stable for over two centuries.

If one of those parties would stop crashing the economy every time it got into office too long, we might have a great country.

[Poseidan]

13. then again

Their governments are not identical to the United States government. Maybe 'pizza parliaments' could work fine in some governments?

[midnight]

2. It is worth exploring, but how about transparent elections first.

I can see us recyling the same manipulations into a multisystem problem.

[Mojambo]

4. You'd practically have to re-write the Constitution.

Which I'm not opposed to actually.

[zeos3]

6. I like the idea

I'm not sure if it would be easier or harder to build a coalition to get legislation passed. You can see the possibilities for it now. The Libertarians have a problem with the current administration. The traditional conservatives have a problem with the Neocons. There's a struggle between Howard Dean and the DLC. Etc.

I think the problem might arise with the single issue voters. Those people whose pet issue trumps EVERYTHING else.

In theory you could build support for an issue among those who agree with it based on its merits. I'm not sure if reality (campaign contributions, political favors, strong arm tactics, the Neocon united front, etc) would allow for such an ideal.

[WallStreetNobody]

7. Having several parties has been a disaster for other democracies

look at India, the world's largest democracy, so much of the failures in government are because they have several parties. Nothing gets done and when it does it tends to just be something that represents/satisfies a small part of the electorate.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

8. Our System Is Fine.

[metapunditedgy]

9. I'm working on it...

The internet is a good start. Slowly but surely, traditional politics is evolving. Campaigns are becoming more transparent and issues are better-researched. Television and "politics of personality" is waning.

Not sure how long it will take to get there, but it's a good start.

By the way, I think ancient Rome tried the Emperor/Caesar split, and at one point even had two of each. Didn't work so well for them, though. Me, I would put more effort into empowering Congress and de-powering the Executive.

[jwirr]

10. How many parties will be listed on our ballot this year. I think there

are usually at least six.

[patrice]

11. Everything should be organized around ISSUES and candidates should be seriously,

very seriously, vetted on the ISSUES.

[Poseidan]

12. every system has its flaws

I'd say the two party system is highly dangerous, as we saw exercised in Nazi Germany, and recently in the United States with the Republican party.

Maybe a no-party system would work better? The problem is people are idiots and politicians are assholes. They should work together, to ensure we achieve the best possible result. Instead, they fight endlessly over frivolous personal gain. You might say, their stupidity makes them incapable of taking an idea for an idea, analyzing it objectively. If the idea comes from Charles Manson, most people reject it outright, even if it's a perfectly good idea. If you take the same idea, tell people it came from Einstein, they might accept it outright, without giving it any critical examination.

I do agree though, the two-party system should be changed. Unfortunately, we may be consigned, once again, to choosing the lesser of evils. Better to eliminate the great evils, so we must only tolerate the minor.