OT 2 party political system

[jimbob]

yes, but at least you have more than one house! In Canada we only have one (power holding) house, and it's chairperson equivalent (Speaker of the House) is voted in by the rest of the house = the ruling party chooses a candidate, and baring a miracle, they get both the majority and the Speaker of the House.

[PvK]

The two-party system is basically tyranny by gang, in my opinion.

I think that with computers available to process votes, voters should be able to vote for as many candidates as they want for any position, and many people should be able to run.

That way, if the two big-party candidates are Hitler and Stalin, and the independents include someone likeable but no one thinks an independent can win, voters can vote for their big-party "lesser of two evils" as well as the likable independents, so the likable independents could win if they are in fact more liked than the two party evils, without people having to give up their choice of lesser big-party evil.

Of course, the two big parties are currently kept in power by this system, are perhaps in the pocket of megacorporate media, and the two party system is conventionally unquestioned. So, it may be a long road to reform.

There are however already some organizations trying to promote electoral reform more or less as I suggested.

PvK

[Wanderer]

Obligatory Simpsons' quotes:

Kent Brockman: Senator Dole, why should people vote for you instead of President Clinton?

Kodos (as Bob Dole): It makes no difference which one of us you vote for. Either way your planet is doomed....DOOMED!

Kent: Well, a refreshingly frank response there from Senator Bob Dole!

...

Kang: It's true! We are aliens! But what are you going to do about it? It's a two party system! You have to vote for one of us!

Man in Crowd: Well, I'm just going to vote for a third party!

Kang: Go ahead! Throw your vote away!! HA HA HA HA!!!

[Fyron]

I don't remember where I read it, but supposably George Washington warned against going to a 2 party system.

It was in his farewell speech at the end of his term. He actually warned against the formation of political parties (factions, as he put them) period, not just a 2 party system. Most of the "founding fathers" warned against such things.

[Phoenix-D]

PvK, what exactly are you suggestion there? Variable votes? If someone doesn't come out on top, the votes for the losers are re-counted using the second selection?

Ex, there are four candiates A, B, C, and D.

Voter 1 picks, in this order:
A
C
D
B

His vote is first counted for A. If A doesn't have enough votes to win, Voter 1's vote becomes a vote for C. If C doesn't, D.

[Narrew]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:

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I don't remember where I read it, but supposably George Washington warned against going to a 2 party system.

It was in his farewell speech at the end of his term. He actually warned against the formation of political parties (factions, as he put them) period, not just a 2 party system. Most of the "founding fathers" warned against such things.

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And didn't Jefferson ignore it and start the 2 party system?

[Fyron]

Narrew, yeah, pretty much. Damn that Jefferson!