Should the U.S have a multi-party system?

I really think there should be a multi-party system. Two parties aren't enough to thoroughly represent the United States as a democracy.

I'm left-leaning, and the Democratic Party doesn't even represent most of my beliefs. I would identify as a Green, but since a Green candidate can't be elected since priority is placed on the candidate, not the party, our third parties can't even be elected.

Our five political parties should be on the ballot and we vote for the political party, not the person. It should be like Germany's style of government.

 

I think a coalition type political system would be good.

 

Yes! I don't think that two parties can honestly represent and champion for all the people in our country. All their ideas, wants, and problems...we need more parties and management as a result.

 

Theoretically, of course, we *have* a multi-party system. It's just that the vast majority of voters prefer to give their votes to the two major parties, so as not to let the one they like least come to power because they didn't support the one they like second-least.

I wish we could all get over that.

 

I've always liked socialism the best, but I'm more likely to vote green. I think we would need a few decades of being used to the green party before anyone would be ready for something more radical. I do agree that 2 parties aren't enough.

 

sure

 

Nobody with more than a handful of brain cells would say no to this. The two-party system is only in place because the wider you make your platform, the more voters you have, and thus the more power you have. But if you stand for everything, you stand for nothing.

And it helps the status quo by allowing the throngs of idiots who live in America to reduce an important and multifaceted decision down to a true/false question. So luck is on the politicians' side there :/

 

I admire European Parliamentary-style politics. What works works until it doesn't work.

 

It seems like the problem with your two main parties is that one of them is Very Right wing and the other is less right wing. Then again what do the British know of US Politics, your system confuses me!

 

I'm a Libertarian, so heck yeah.....

 

It'd be interesting, yes.

However, whenever anyone discusses politics, I always remember this:

" Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything. "​

Whether or not Joseph Stalin said it, it is something to think about. Of course, when I mention this, some folks believe I'm going into total conspiracy theory mode. I just don't much trust anyone with a lot of power, because very rarely do I notice a remarkable difference; the direction of America, always seems to be going one way or another, for one reason or another. It generally seems to benefit those at the top, or those connected to them via accessibility or funding.

I have a feeling, though, even if the United States had a multiple party system (well, that was noticeable, and not dominated by two parties), that it would still, roughly, be the same.

To conclude on a lighter note, as I've said to others before, and even here, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are just, simply, two sides of the same hand. All you really get to choose is, do you want to be slapped in a traditional way, or do you want to be slapped with the back of the hand?

 

we have a multi-party system in new zealand .its pretty empowering to vote for parties you actually like .saying that theres a few forms of mmp and im for very low thresholds.

---------- Post added 11th Aug 2014 at 10:19 AM ----------

wow look at that poll.no debates in this thead i guess.

:tears:

 

We HAVE a multiparty system. There are many other parties beside the main two. The fact is, those two parties are the most popular since it's easy to join one or the other.

I've majorly been turned off by the Tea Party recently. They're getting hung up on gays SO MUCH that many email updates I get are nothing but hateful venom. I don't like that.

The GOP has me angry about how they don't DO ANYTHING! They talk and talk, but no action.

I'm considering myself Libertarian at this point due to my shifting political leanings and ideal platform.

If every GOP supporter decided to vote Libertarian, the GOP would become a minor party. Then it would be Dems and Libs. In 100 years, it might be Greens and Libs. Who knows!? There is always the Bull Moose Progressive party.

 

The way I saw this quote was "It's not who votes that counts, but who counts the votes." The sentiment is the same though, and it makes me sad.

Data, of course we have lots of political parties. But the cold truth is that all they manage to do is make noise. No third-party stands a chance of gaining the upper hand on Dems or Reps overall.

 

No, because:

1. I am generally content with my political party, except it's horrible positions on gay rights.
2. Multi party systems leave room for fringe parties to form and thrive. If you think our country is divided now...imagine have 4 parties from each spectrum killing each other's chances off based off "ideological purity tests."

 

Guys, I left out something important. I forgot to add if we should have proportional representation. I know that we already have a multi-party system but no point in a multi-party system if no one from the other parties have representation in congress, even though people already vote for those parties LOL

 

Ummm... There are serious flaws in the operation of a proportional representation based political system in a federal republic. I don't want to go into it now though I may if I feel the need. Two words instead:

Weimar Germany.

 

Yeah I totally agree. The Tea Party supporters should form a separate party because the GOP's image is tarnished by the tea party movement.

I agree that the GOP talk but no action. Same thing for the Dems, talk but no action. They always come up with ideas to reduce the national debt. The problem is that if they claim that they can do it, they would have done it.

---------- Post added 10th Aug 2014 at 08:31 PM ----------

Oh yeah... however, people don't want to repeat those mistakes so political pressure can cause the legislative body to dissolve and have a recall election. We still have to be fair.

 

While I'm an independent, I do agree with the Libertarian and Green Parties on a lot of things (despite the fact that the Libertarian party is going off the deep end). I should point out that it's almost impossible for independents to run, either.

We're a country that places most of a politician's value on what party they're from. I have family members who absolutely refuse to vote for the Democrat and always vote for the Republican, even if the Republican is completely batshit crazy.

While I'll probably remain an independent, even if other parties are properly recongnized, it'd certainly be nice to have more of a selection.

 

Yeah, that would be the worst thing we could possibly do actually. That would ensure that every American value regarding rights of the minorities would instantly go bye-bye. At least if I understand it correctly. Not to mention if that's what Weimar Germany did, we all know how peachy that ended up. o.0