Do we need to get rid of the 2 party system in politics?

SGT(P) Eric L. — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:28:51 -0500

How can it be fixed?

Response by MSgt Aaron Brite made Feb 21 at 2016 11:33 AM

MSgt Aaron Brite — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:33:50 -0500

We need to double the number of parties with at least one solidly moderate. This current ideological political dichotomy only drives divisiveness.

Response by MSgt C Madd made Feb 21 at 2016 11:37 AM

MSgt C Madd — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:37:46 -0500

It may be two party only in name, not in actions. That is what this primary has shown. People are sick of it, as shown by Trump and Sanders popularity.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 11:39 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:39:57 -0500

Yes! Party is the root of the problems we face today. Read President George Washington's faction warning in his farewell speech.

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp

Avalon Project - Washington's Farewell Address 1796

The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, to decline...

Response by MSgt Mike Ruikka made Feb 21 at 2016 11:40 AM

MSgt Mike Ruikka — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:40:29 -0500

What really needs to happen is term limits for congress. The system was not designed for career politicians. The founding fathers all had jobs and other concerns outside of their political obligations. That is what we need again.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 21 at 2016 11:53 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:53:10 -0500

CGPGrey does great videos on these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo

Thank you Capt Richard I P.

The Problems with First Past the Post Voting Explained

Help support videos like this: http://www.cgpgrey.com/subbable **CGPGrey T-Shirts for sale!**: http://goo.gl/1Wlnd Grey's blog: http://www.cgpgrey.com/ Watch...

Response by Sgt William Biggs made Feb 21 at 2016 11:56 AM

Sgt William Biggs — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:56:23 -0500

We don't allow monopolies in business, but we do in politics. I absolutely think that we need something more than a two party system. We have become so entrenched in our political lines, that it is near impossible to truly work things out without going above a beyond to sway a member or two of the other side. We really need a spectrum of parties and ideals, versus the current all-or-nothing, polarization of our two most popular parties.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Feb 21 at 2016 12:09 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 12:09:04 -0500

It would be fantastic to have more nationally competitive parties. The two we have now seem to be "dumb & dumber." I do not understand why true constitutionalist, libertarian, and even a green tree hugger parties have not formed with a national following. It seems, at least to me, that the following is there. The Republican & Democratic parties have to rely on their core constituencies and come out looking & smelling too much alike.

Response by SFC Don Ward made Feb 21 at 2016 12:46 PM

SFC Don Ward — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 12:46:12 -0500

Still best system going

Response by Alan K. made Feb 21 at 2016 1:30 PM

Alan K. — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 13:30:16 -0500

The two party system? Only party in politics is the $$$$$$$ party. When you take the money out of Politics you will have term limits automatically! You will also have a true public servants wanting the positions....Not for monetary gain.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 21 at 2016 1:30 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 13:30:49 -0500

Political parties are neither mandated nor precluded by the Constitution. They are naturally occurring (like a cancer). They have arisen spontaneously throughout America's history and lapsed when no longer relevant only to be replaced by others. There have always been more than two, but only two with sufficient numbers to warrant recognition. Currently, both major parties are ebbing. Both have abandoned any semblance of principles and merely pander to special interests. The GOP panders to the religious right and a select group that is too clueless to realize that their party checked out a few decades ago. The Democrats pander to a rainbow coalition of fringe groups, many inimically hostile to each other. This leaves a simple majority of Americans sitting on the sidelines wondering what the hell happened to their country while the freaks cavort in a national carnival side show. How can it be fixed. Leadership. Someone has to step up to the plate and inspire that majority to get off their duffs and take their country and their Constitution back. That person will need a lot of courage and support because the political establishment will recognize the threat and do everything in their power to destroy it. Indeed, it might be the one and only thing on which they may agree to collaborate.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 1:37 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 13:37:01 -0500

This movie came out in 1978 and OPEC, the Russians, high crime and social issues still are very similiar to today. The movie analogy is just perfect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qgVn-Op7Q

Network - "I'm as mad as hell" speech [english subtitles]

"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 2:07 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 14:07:22 -0500

I'd be happy if they put this out to the voters again since it was either fraudulently removed during the War of 1812 or fell short of ratification and needs another shot.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Feb 21 at 2016 3:07 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 15:07:15 -0500

A rose by any other name....................

Response by SPC Felicia Lindsey made Feb 21 at 2016 3:34 PM

SPC Felicia Lindsey — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 15:34:56 -0500

I think we should be able to decide based on what we like about the candidates, I don't think we should be forced to choose a side and stick with it. I think a majority of people would be independent now because we don't trust career politicians.

Response by CPO Tim Dickey made Feb 21 at 2016 4:18 PM

CPO Tim Dickey — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 16:18:52 -0500

At this stage, SGT(P) Eric L., the 2x party system cannot be fixed. It's already fixed and not in a good way. Each party is beholden to a small group of special interests that are not representative of 'We the People'. A multi-party system is part of the solution, but the real fix is a well-educated people that have a firm and unwavering understanding of their rights has defined by the Framers of the Constitution.

Response by SSG John Caples made Feb 21 at 2016 6:31 PM

SSG John Caples — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 18:31:30 -0500

That's where all our money is going to them , every politician that is local , public, and representing us in Washington is a Liar, con-artist , racist, bigamist.-- that means no good to us as Veterans , soldier's , Sailor's and the American public , there no more different than the Mafia Underworld,

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 8:36 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 20:36:21 -0500

The two party system is broken. Recently a poll showed that 42% of voters say they are independent and don't want to labeled by either party. I read an interesting article about this subject a while ago. Here is how to fix the problem...
1.) Pass Ballot Initiatives Demanding Instant Runoff Voting
It allows you to rank all candidates in order of preference, rather than having to choose just one. If there are five candidates from five different parties, each of them get ranked one through five. At the end of the day, the candidate with the most "1" rankings is the winner. It may seem confusing at first, but think of it like scoring a golf game. Ballots are initially distributed based on each elector's first preference. If a candidate secures more than half of votes cast, that candidate wins. Otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Ballots assigned to the eliminated candidate are recounted and added to the totals of the remaining candidates based on who is ranked next on each ballot. This process continues until one candidate wins by obtaining more than half the votes.
2. Pass a Constitutional Amendment to Say Corporations Aren’t People and Money Isn’t Speech
When 42 billionaires can fund a third of all political ads, there’s something clearly wrong with our democratic process. "We the People Amendment" stating that only human beings have constitutional rights, and that money is property and not free speech, has already been passed in over 200 communities. An additional 400 communities have passed amendments with similar language. And no matter how red or blue that community is, every time the amendment has been brought up for a vote, it has passed. This will remove unions and corporations from the election process.
3. Pass a Constitutional Amendment That Makes Voting an Inalienable Right and Election Day a Holiday
With this one if you vote you will receive a code to use on your taxes and will get a tax break. This new amendment also needs to explicitly state that voting is the inalienable right of every citizen, that every vote cast will be counted, and that no election will be called for any candidate until every last vote is counted. This will stop people from feeling their vote won't matter when they call a race with 1% of the vote in. The second part of the amendment will state that Election Day is a federally-recognized holiday, that all schools will be closed, and that no business can force their employees to work on that holiday. Can you imagine a voting cycle where over 90% of the people turn out instead of just 36% like the 2014 election?

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 7:22 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 07:22:17 -0500

I wish we can .... but we won't. :P

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 10:54 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 10:54:21 -0500

The biggest thing we could do right now to help moderate our nation's politics is take redistricting OUT of the hands of the politicians and force a non-partisan commission to do so... That would take a Constitutional Amendment.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 10:56 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 10:56:57 -0500

There are lots of political parties. Not enough people vote for "third party" candidates for them to be relevant.
But they do sneak into the process. Ron Paul was a Liberitarian who ran as a republican. Bernie Sanders is a Socialist running as a Democrat. So was George McGovern.
Once in a while, a third party candidate gets some traction, like Ralph Nader (Green Party), Ross Perot (Independence Party), or Teddy Roosevelt (Bull Moose Party).

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Feb 22 at 2016 11:43 PM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 23:43:30 -0500

We should have a 3rd or 4th party. why should everything be limited to just 2 parties ?

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Mar 2 at 2016 1:26 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:26:57 -0500

Yes!

Response by SSgt W. Aaron Gregory made Jul 26 at 2016 1:24 PM

SSgt W. Aaron Gregory — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:24:32 -0400

Define "We". There are an estimated 310 million people in these United States.The Constitution provides us with a solution. The mechanics behind it, require a drive and commitment way beyond what we are capable of. Just my opinion.

Completely by-pass the federal government and convene Article V constitutional conventions in at least 34 US States and amend the constitution.

In that amendment, you dismiss all elected officials, bar them from ever holding any elected or appointed office ever again, ban political contributions, ban private funding of political campaigns, and write law that all FCC regulated entities make blocks of advertising time equally available to all candidates for public office having reached the required petition threshold. Outlaw political parties altogether. Outlaw lobbyists.

These amendments can then be ratified by ratifying committees in the same or other states which by-passes the state legislatures.

Yes, we can get rid of politicians, and replace them with statesmen/stateswomen/statespeople...

How dissatisfied are "we"?

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Jul 26 at 2016 4:00 PM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 16:00:05 -0400