Will we ever get away from the 2-party system?

[P/N]

As I see it, the main problem with our system of government is plain and simple - special interests. Both main parties are so tied down to special interests that those elcted to serve the people in turn serve special interests instead. Is the general public so "stupid" when it comes to politics and agendas that they can't see this (I already know the answer, but I thought I'd pose the question anyway to cover due diligence)?

Here we have Ron Paul. He is a man that speaks the truth, but doesn't toe the party line. He stands no chance at winning the Republican nomination, but is currently running as a Republican merely for the publicity IMO. I see him actually running for President as an independent, but the coverage he is getting running as a Republican presently is more than he could ever get at this stage if he was running as an Independent.

Why doesn't America wake up and see what our two-party system is doing to us? There are so few people in Washington that actually serve the American people that you couldn't hit one of them with a raindrop. I know, I know - with special interests comes the money to actually run a campaign, but I don't see our present electorate actually passing campaign finance reform that would benefit anyone other than themselves either. Why isn't the public outraged at this? Why do so many Americans not care about our government?

I watched a really bad movie recently called 'Idiocracy'. While it's pathetic attempt at humor fell way short, there is a lot of sad truth to it. For example, America no longer used water to grow crops, we used a Gatorade like substance instead because the company that makes them (special interest group) got Congress to pass a law requiring this liquid to be used instead of water. I know this is extreme, but it's crap like this that happens every day in Washington (albeit on a much smaller scale, but it happens). The President was a criminal who cussed in every sentence, the #1 show on TV was some version of 'Jackass' from MTV, executions were held publicly in some sort of gladiator setting and the main character (Luke Wilson) was tested to be the smartest man on the earth. I hope we never get to this point in our country, but we are definitely headed in that direction.

I know that it is the popular thing to do to bash someone like Bill O'Reilly, but it's people just like him (even Stephen Colbert) that are actually doing everyone a favor by making politics important. If there wasn't a Bill O'Reilly, would there be anyone who would run a successful hour long news commentary program that keeps people who may not otherwise keep up on the news at least somewhat informed? I know O'Reilly has his own personal agendas that he drives home (repeatedly), and there are some that I agree with (Jessica's Law) and some that I don't (rap music - but trust me I hate rap). But he gets people talking about current events and politics. If he didn't exist, would there be someone else who would fill this role?

We need a viable third party (or even a fourth) in this country that isn't going to be tied down to special interests. Once we have that party/parties, we need to actually elect people from that party that will make a difference. The present candidates for POTUS from both major parties can say all they want about cleaning up Washington, but it's nothing more than complete and utter bullshit. They are all tied down to special interests whether they like it or not. Those special interests like the way things are presently and they don't want to see any changes. When will this country wake up and save itself from it's own internal destruction?

[willis]

Originally Posted by P/N

executions were held publicly in some sort of gladiator setting

how great would it be to really see that implemented??..


as far as a third or fourth party.. why do you think that if another party came up, was accepted by enough people as to be a serious alternative to the two we have and started winning some power back, that they wouldn't end up just as corrupt and special interest infested as the two that are there now?

I'm not saying we are fine with a two party system, but i think it's naive to say that a third party would automatically fix it because they would be this party of uncorruptable idealists... i don't have anywhere near the faith in people required to believe that..

our society needs more of a change than "ooh look, three choices instead of two"..

[Donkey®]

To think that if Ron Paul won the Presidency all will live happily ever after is a fantasy. The SYSTEM is fucked up. This GOVERNMENT is fucked up. The PEOPLE are fucked up. This country is about NOTHING but money. Greed destroyed what could have been a great country.

[goldenponderbob]

Did you ever suppose that our two party system perhaps isn't?

Like pro wrestlers who plan backstage who'll play which role, good guy or bad, the political parties divide the booty collected from chumps (thats us, by the way) who fall prey to their "political theatrics". They meanwhile protect their shameless sham by cooperating to keep third party "crashers" from squeezing in on the fun.

Did you know that General Haig, and liberal commedian Mort Sahl are close friends? When asked how the could pass the smell test, Sahl, replied, "Oh, it's okay, He's in on the Joke".

[willis]

Originally Posted by goldenponderbob

Did you know that General Haig, and liberal commedian Mort Sahl are close friends? When asked how the could pass the smell test, Sahl, replied, "Oh, it's okay, He's in on the Joke".

and that shows exactly what?? liberals and conservatives cannot be friends and put aside their political differences for the sake of basic human interaction??

[RMNIXON]

I think we would need to have run-off elections. Perot came close and kept Clinton under 50% of the vote Twice! People would be more likely to vote third party if they did not get hit with the idea that a vote for "so and so" is a vote taken away from the top Democrat or Republican. If polls indicated a third party held votes for any candidate under 50% the game would be afoot!

[goldenponderbob]

and that shows exactly what?? liberals and conservatives cannot be friends and put aside their political differences for the sake of basic human interaction??

No, not at all; I was referreing to "parties", not "idealogies " and my remark was about Sahl's use to the "Joke" in response to the interviewer's assertion
that they appeared to be bit of an odd couple, as it were.

I thought is was cute and at the same time "telling", as Haig is mostly portrayed in the media as pretty much a stuffed shirt. One might not think him "cool" enough to hang out with "intellectual types".

I have to add that I happen to be a huge Mort Sahl fan. I've been dragging people, including those who didn't "get him" to catch his routines for forty years. He was working the MGM hotel in Las Vegas when my wife and I stayed there on our honeymoon 32 years ago.

I was flipping channels, by far the world's most popular passtime, and caught just a tiny piece of that interview; catching a bit of Sahl's take on anything is worth the trip.

[Kytro]

The 2 part system presents false choice as real choice. The differences between the parities is not anything of great consequence