How do you feel about political parties and their impact on American government?

Question

With each passing election cycle, I'm becoming more and more convinced that political parties are ruining American government. It seems like when most people talk about politicians, there's an us vs. them mentality - meaning red vs. blue, democrat vs. republican. The lines in congress and in state government seem to mostly split along party lines. When it comes to voting, it seems like most people are choosing the guy from their own party because he's from their party rather than because he's the best guy for the job.

I'm not going to pretend I have an answer for this and I know that political parties have always been part of the system. It just feels like the split has become much more than just about philosophical ideas. And as a result I feel like everyone one is suffering.

genocidicle: The United States was never intended to have a true democracy. In a true democracy, every citizen would vote on every issue. In a country as large as ours - and even in a state as small as Rhode Island - I'm sure you can see how impractical that would be. Instead, we have a representative democracy where we select representatives to be our voice in government.

Answer 1

Dems or repubs there is little difference in the two parties. They are both controlled by corporations and lobbyists,not we the people.

Answer 2

You're right: everyone IS suffering from this malediction.
It IS an "us vs. them" mentality.
The "Republicrats" have monopolized and corrupted our political system to ensure that no one can 'join the club' without the approval of party officials and corporate big shots.
So the only people who benefit are the wealthy elitists and industrialists who want the profits that can be gained from war and legislation favorable to their interests.
H. Ross Perot almost set the political machinery on edge in 1992; today, there are only two candidates capable of doing that: Ron Paul and Mike Gravel. But because the mainstream media is part of this monopoly that excludes most average Americans, Paul and Gravel get scant attention with their fresh ideas, bold new concepts and innovations. Even if they were elected, the stranglehold would remain as "Republicrats" in Congress would destroy every initiative introduced by such 'radical' opponents.
Too many millions of American voters have been brainwashed into accepting the 'status quo' of a corrupted political system monopolized by the two primary parties.
I don't think change will come until shortly after Bush leaves office when America experiences its worst economic depression since 1929. Only then will the people of the United States be heard in Washington as millions lose their jobs, millionaires lose their fortunes, banks fail and businesses go belly-up. -RKO- 10/18/07

Answer 3

Party politics is a massive scam like democracy, how can it be run by the people when all you get to do is vote every few years and the people who vote dont even care as long as there comfortoble and have a tv. and now the governments are run by big buissness who only look after there own greedy profit making fat a*ses vive le revolution bring back the guillotene.

Answer 4

I agree, political parties have become a way for us lazy Americans to vote on a candidate without having to really understand where they stand on the issues. If you are pro-life vote repub. if you are pro-choice vote dem. Just go right on down the line. I feel that these days people use a few broad generalizations to choose who they are going to vote for. Like you I have no idea how to correct the situation.

Answer 5

You cant imagine a democracy without political parties and quality of political parties will always be like the quality of citizens they are dealing with.