[jimbob]

Well, there is a distinct disadvantage to having many small parties, as has been common in countries like Italy. The down side is that you can only get a ruling party when you get a composite party, but these are notoriously unstable because if splinter party X doesn't get their way, they'll pull out and force a new election. That's why Italy has an election every 20 minutes or so... and if Isreal wasn't so challenged by the Palestinian bombings, it would likely have this problem too. As a result of this sort of instability, the country ends up with the inability to have a long term international policy, trade agreements, etc.

The disadvantage of having the "2 party system", even thought there really is nothing blocking more parties, is that it doesn't keep the politicians honest.

In Canada we have a multi party system, but only with 4 major parties and a fifth that serves a social policy role (the NDP, and it is quite respected) even though it will never rule. The biggest problem is that one of the parties, the Liberals, have figured out that the majority of people are in the middle - and so they've become the "middle party", giving them election after election. It has evolved into a one-party political system, where one party is no longer responsible or inovative - because they don't need to be! I'd take your divisive, polarized system over the stagnant system because at least you have some degree of accountability to the electorate. The frequency of American elections is obviously annoying, but also serves a pretty good role in giving voters instant input into their representatives = instant accounting on the part of the politicians.

Though in theory I'm in favor of the American system becoming multi-party (three would be good), I'm just afraid that the third party would become the "middle party" and turn the US into the dictocracy that is Canada.

Just my thoughts, obviously many Canadians will disagree with me. (Edit: and for those of you not from Canada/not familiar with the anxiety built up around regionalism, it would be interesting to compare/contrast my views with those of people in other regions of Canada. I'm a westerner, and probably have a different view of this than say someone from central Canada (ie Ontario, perhaps Quebec) or eastern Canada (esp. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland)).

[ May 29, 2003, 19:31: Message edited by: jimbob ]