Do u believe the foundingfathers were right 2 believe a 2-party politcal system would limit choices to the ppl

Question

blindguy- Well the reason that the founding fathers did not believe in political parties was that they belived it woud limit choices to the people

Answer 1

After reading the question and some answers, I think there may be a bit of confusion.

George Washington, the most famous and justifiably glorified of the founding fathers, was very much against a partisan system, as he described in his farewell speech of 1796:

"All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They [political parties] serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.

"However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

Other founding fathers, however, were very much partisan - Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, etc. Political parties began to develop around 1789. I wouldn't say specifically two party, though the options were normally one extreme or the other.

So....my first response would be that it was primarily our ultimate American hero and founding father, George Washington, that foresaw the negative results of partisan systems - not the group of many founding fathers, many of whom were partisan.

But...to the meat of your question - I very much believe Washington was correct, and that in warning others he had our country's best interest at heart. Partisan politics limit the choices of our people to straight party-line interests rather than case by case rationale. For the most part, partisan politics prevents our representatives from thinking outside their respective boxes - they fail to agree and disagree as they and their constituents believe but rather as their party leaders and special interests direct. By being a representative of a political party, you are representing your party - not your people. Your allegiance is to this party, not to the best interest of our country and its future. Though we have independants who are, to some degree, not aligned with such silliness, the power and clout of the existing and established political parties is much too strong for independant candidates to make it very far in our system.

Answer 2

Yes I do. The two party political system is one of the many causes of the American Public dumbing down in their civic duties. Choosing between 2 canidates (rep. or dem.) is easier than choosing between 3 or 4 or 10 other people. And that simplified version fits the american lifestyle well today. Many people do not want to dedicate a lot of time in voting for a candidate. The problem occurs when the two partied system dishes out a bunch of buttholes for you to vote for. You hear people talking about voting for "the lesser of two evils." In those situations, you cannot help to wonder if their was a canidate outside the two partied system that was actually a good canidate.

Answer 3

The founnding faters DID NOT believe in a two-party system. In fact, they believed "factions"--political parties--were dangerous to democracy and freedom.

I strongly suspect that, had they realized the system they were creating would have the unintended consequence of institutionalizing a 2-party system, they'd have modified the structure they were creating to make sure that there would be a lot more competition.

PS: to "Peace Warrior:"--no offense, but as long as you are looking for someome else to do the standing up instead of standing up for yourself, you ARE the problem. The founding fathers created a system that depends on active, engaged citizens-not people looking for a caregiver.

Answer 4

The framers of the Constitution wanted to avoid political parties. They thought political parties would not be good for America. How prophetic. We have more than two parties. There are Libertarians, Greens, Socialists. Also, independents occassionally get elected. Money limits the choice of presidential candidates.

Answer 5

well when you look at what their original writ tings had to say and look at ware we are now, the divide is huge. people seem to get caught up in blaming the party opposite of the one you support. the way i see it, the only way for this system to really work in the long run is for us to hold our parties responsible for its mistakes. neither party is evil or without good ideas and wonderful people. however there are those dirty, rotten, low down scoundrels. those that are hell bent on making the rich richer and driving this country back to the stone age while they slip out the back door with your lute! leaving you and your family living in third world conditions and at their mercy. these maggots due exist in both parties. if your a democrat, police your party, hold them responsible for decisions they make that are not in the best interest or are not the will of the American people. republicans, police your party and hold them to the highest standards as we expect as citizens of the united states of America!!. if your pissed of about Iraq, hold your party accountable for its part in the war weather its lie to the American people and world community, of for sleeping at the wheel and allowing it to happen. not fully investigating the claims of the administration before signing up. government as a whole is responsible, dont fall for the "choose a party to blame trap". both failed the American people!!

Answer 6

They actually did not believe in parties. they sort of rose up to the point where George Washington left the Presidency in disgust over it. They believed people should vote the best among them as their representatives. It has been awhile since we have done that.

Answer 7

A better question would be: What if the founding fathers had not ran away from their country because no one there wanted to be burned for their beliefs and just adapted to what ever religion was popular then, what changes would we see now?More Indians?

Answer 8

Well whether they were or not, a party system is inevitable in a government like ours, and a two-party system is the most likely party system to occur.

Answer 9

2-party political systems, dont work and they are a waste of time. it gives other an excuse to live a one tracked mind

Answer 10

I wish we had a 2-party system

So we the people could have one to stand up for us against the Corporate Party (the Republocrats)