Current Events > Does the U.S. need MORE or FEWER political parties?

(+) Yeah! (+)

So out of the >500 congresspeoples, 3 are independent (ie- not Democratic or Republican).
I've heard very few people who think this system is ideal, but have heard some say political parties shouldn't be a thing to begin with and others who say we need more of them.
On one hand, political parties seem to promote an "us vs them" mentality in which the "other side" is ignored and villainized. It allows people to develop 'party over ideas' mentality.
On the other hand, I can understand that numbers have power ultimately and can understand why they developed.

What say you?
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We need a voting system that actually allows third parties to have a chance.
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We're stuck with 2 parties unless there's either a gigantic paradigm shift or we abolish FPTP or we implement an MMP system.

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We already have plenty of parties

Just none with any electoral viability outside of the big two
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I appreciate that you used fewer instead of less.

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Garioshi posted...

or we implement an MMP system.

this can be done on the state level, as it was in maine (despite much nazi gnashing of teeth)

the nazis lost big after the change was implemented
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Ranked choice please

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hockeybub89 posted...

Ranked choice please

Yes please
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We're slowly going to only have one party where one side is conservative extremists and the other is moderate conservative. Liberal ideals are dying in this country, the justice system is completely dominated by the right and thanks to the rise of SJWs and PC culture the right has been able to attach practically anything left leaning towards those ideals
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tremain07 posted...

We're slowly going to only have one party where one side is conservative extremists and the other is moderate conservative. Liberal ideals are dying in this country, the justice system is completely dominated by the right and thanks to the rise of SJWs and PC culture the right has been able to attach practically anything left leaning towards those ideals

I disagree, I think if there's anything to learn from the past, it's that the parties will do what they need to in order to keep votes and stay in power. The Republican and Democratic party completely flipped their views on representing minorities because it suited them to do so at different times.
The democratic party is staying to the left because it's getting them votes right now, as evidenced by several of the last few elections.
If the country as a whole really did make a big move to the right, the Democratic party would follow to the right faster than you can say "what the hell just happened?" in order to scoop up more votes.
That's why I personally value looking at issues individually more than I do getting too friendly with parties.
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Guide posted...

I appreciate that you used fewer instead of less.

Yeh *thumbs up*

FL81 posted...

We already have plenty of parties

Just none with any electoral viability outside of the big two

My topic relates to electoral viability, which is why I specified "with actual representation" in the poll.
I mean, if we're real about it, we all know the Green Party exists but does anyone actually expect the next president to represent the party or for a big wave of green to gain a bunch of seats in Congress next time around? No. No one does.

hockeybub89 posted...

Ranked choice please

I'm for it.
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