Do you think America needs the party system?

Question

I personally think that we would be better off without it. It would lead to much less bickering in the government.

I'm not suggesting Dicatorship or anything like it. I'm merely suggesting that we could do without parties controlling Washington. It wasn't mentioned even once in the constitution. People seem to care more about the party than the people they serve.

Answer 1

So long as you want to be free to associate with those you choose then there will be Political Parties. People with common interests and beliefs band together you can't stop that and I'm not sure you would want to. What I find most amusing is when someone berates one party not for their beliefs but the tactics used. They fail to see the hypocrisy. Leaders of both parties are whores, the difference isn't that one is selling out and the other doesn't. The difference is who is doing the buying. I find claims that one party is morally superior to the other quite amusing, because for every instance for corruption that you point out I can site an equal instance on the other side.

Answer 2

Do we have a real party system? For over a century, American politics has been ruled by only two parties. But they used to be one party: the Democratic Republican Party. Both are factions of that former party.

And although they love to hate each other, their difference on real policy issues are minimal. And the one thing they hate more than each other is an independent or third party-- anyone that threatens their lock on power.

More and more it appears to me that we have a one-party system. Sure, one wants to ban what the other says is a right (school prayer, abortion, flag burning, guns). But these are minor issues compared to the real challenges that face us as a nation. Neither side wants to talk about real change, and as long as they won't, no meaningful political discussion can occur.

Answer 3

Political parties blind our vision of the real government. Take FOX news for instance, they lie so the republicans can win elections. Politicians lie just so they and their political party will win. Most people think that we'd be a dictatorship for not having them. When in fact George Washington, one of the leading contributors to the founding of the U.S. warned people of the idea of political parties.

Answer 4

The 'two party system' isn't really built into the constitution, it's a result of having winner-take-all elections. The only way to be rid of it would be to allow candidates to 'throw support' to eachother, post-election. Something more like a parlimentary system. Even that wouldn't eliminate parties, just result in a proliferation of parties rather than two big ones.

Answer 5

I used to think that would be a good idea, but history has shown us that it doesn't work. Look into the "Era of good feelings".

I think it would be better if people abandoned party loyalty. This way, you still get debate within government, but people would elect the best candidate, not the one their party says is best.

This is to say, if it even matters in the end.

Answer 6

we are a 2 party system. Right now the cons are in denial thinking they are actually winners and doing a good thing. They are raising taxes and taking money from the poor to fund the rich who give that money to fight a WMD war thats non existant

Answer 7

I wish we had more than two parties, that would shake complaisancy of both parties specially if a third party really caused mass displacement of one of the two major if not the ruling party, that is what neither Democrats or Republicans want.

Answer 8

GEORGE WASHINGTON WARNED THE PEOPLE ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES saying that politicians would end up serving the parties instead of the people. Smart man that George guy.

Answer 9

America doesn't need it, but the parties need it to retain power. How else would you get all "like-minded" individuals to all pick the same guy who would "represent the like-minded people's wishes" if there are ten different people who would be equally capable and willing to "represent." The votes are split, and they no longer vote as one body and they lose power.

I wouldn't mind it, but they'll never give it up.

Answer 10

And you suggest what? Dictatorship? That quells bickering, I hear. Monarchy rule? That, too, will quell bickering. Anarchy? Then it would be complete and total bickering 24/7.