Would having many different parties in government be 'un-American'?

Question

Why not have proper representation in government?

What's wrong with having ten different parties in government as opposed to only 3?
The democratic system would work much better if corruption was taken out of the duopoly system and members were not beholden to their party's interests and childish peer pressure.

rann-georgia: that is SO true.....

Answer 1

It would not be un-American but it would be rather unfeasible. Our democracy operates under the “presidential” system. In our system, a candidate running for President runs as just a member of his or her party and the wins only their election. They may have “coat-tails” where if they are very popular they can help usher in fellow members of their party into Congress, be it the House or Senate. But this is strictly informal.

In the “parliamentary” system, things work a bit differently. I’m not an expert but I think I have a pretty good notion of it. There the candidate running for Prime Minister is also the head of his or her party. And if they win their election, it’s because their party won the biggest number of seats in parliament. The candidate that comes in second does so because their party got the second highest number of votes and so on and so forth. Unlike the presidential system, it’s all spelled out and figured exactly. And unless they get a governing majority, which doesn’t happen every time, they have to form coalitions with like-minded smaller parties.

Anything more than three parties in a presidential system would be a disaster and even three might be pushing it. Get a half-dozen viable parties and you would end up with a President being elected with 25% of the vote or something crazy like that. Such a President wouldn’t have any significant representation in Congress, you’d constantly have to go through hell to form temporary coalitions for every vote. You actually see things like this is some Latin American countries, Bolivia for example, it doesn’t work that well.

Now if you’d like to argue that the parliamentary system is better than the presidential system, as an American, I’d like to see that discussion some time.

Answer 2

Basically, you have two major parties and if there's a third, it's purely for show by the other two.

It's all about money, money, money. You can't have a multi-party system as in Britain as the process isn't aimed at joining multi-parties into a coalition. It would be unthinkable.

The main agenda of congremessmen and Senators is to be elected again to be elected again. That means on the phone trying to get big-wigs to donate money.

It's a known fact that big industry writes most of the legislation that goes before Congress. Those elected don't have the time, they're too busy on the phone.

If you look at what has happened to this country in the last six years, we've went back to a time in which Charles Dickens would feel most at home. That is, big business, debtors prisons, and the whole lot.

We don't have an established peer system as in Britain. We have a secret peer system in big business and it's all about how much money they can funnel to the Congress and elect the ones they want to get what they want done. And, that is no or limited taxes on big business, relaxed laws on workmen's comp., credit card companies draining the last bit of life out of their victims and what else?

Answer 3

It is un-American! In fact, our founding fathers wanted only one party of white, male, property owners to make all decisions for the good of the country. We all can thank God that Thomas Jefferson saw the problem with this system and instituted the two-party system. The results of a one-party system is called Communism. I like the two-party system because it allows me to criticize both parties while voting for the best person for the job. I am an independent.

Answer 4

There are only two major parties in the US government, and they have manipulated to system to retain their dual-monopoly.

Independents are not a party. That term is just used, incorrectly, to refer to anyone other than those two parties.

Yes, having a true coalition system with many different parties would be much better, and much more in the spirit of what this country was founded on. Just one reason why there are no political parties mentioned anywhere within the Constitution.

Answer 5

There are many more then 3 already, Americans vote a vast majority for the two major parties. There is nothing wrong with having more then two party's, however it will be hard for more then the top two to become viable. Plenty of money doesn't even seem to help. I really don't know what it will take to change this. Somebody too inspire the voters I guess. Could you be the one? Never know until you try. .

Answer 6

If anything, having more parties would be Pro-American. The ability to chose political views is the backbone of the American political system (besides being rich). If you have a view, you are able to express it, with the potential to present it in a leadership (Presidential) position.

Answer 7

I for one am disgusted with the two major parties.

C'mon.....look at the long line of absolute LOSERS they have offered to us for the past few decades. This is the best America has?

I vote third party whenever the person is not a complete whack-job.

Answer 8

Nothing is "wrong" with have more than two parties. The problem is, they can't win. There have been as many as five parties that I know of vying for president. But, with few exceptions, the winner is always either a Dem. or a Republican.

Answer 9

What's "un-American" right now is the entire current administration and the people who support them and then have the nerve to call others "un-American".

Answer 10

You mean like a party concerned with social welfare? But that would destroy the economy!