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First Past the Post voting system will always lead to 2 party rule... One of the ways to change that is to adopt a Ranked Choice voting system. For some reason

by syshum 5y ago

First Past the Post voting system will always lead to 2 party rule... One of the ways to change that is to adopt a Ranked Choice voting system. For some reason Americans seem to be very opposed to this idea.

betwixthewires 5y ago
I'm a fan of ranked choice voting, but I feel the need to add that the de facto 2 party system in the US functions similarly to political bloc majority government formation in European democracies. The difference is the US names the coalitions rather than the individual parties themselves. If you look at either US party you see very different voting trends on platform between different regions, you see sub parties (like justice Democrats or tea party) and a constant shift in platform to keep these groups appeased, very similar in effect to the process of compromise by which majority governments are formed in European democracies. IMO this is a symptom of majority rule and will occur regardless whether you name the parties or name the coalitions. What you wind up with is 2 blocs made up of diverse interests with enough overlapping or converging interest forming through negotiation.
- nine_k 5y ago
  One important difference is that coalitions are fluent, and party P can choose to join a coalition with party Q or party R, depending on their electoral perspectives and alignment of values, even if Q and R are bitter rivals and never would form a coalition between themselves. Those who voted for P won't mind because P would still mostly stick to its program, for which the voters voted. Can you imagine a reasonably large group of politicians to move from R to D or vice versa, and not lose the voices of their electorate?
  - betwixthewires 5y ago
    Well, that process happens in the voter base, not the groups of elected representatives as it does in Europe. Basically an american "party" has to represent interests (at least with lip service as is often the case) of its constituent groups or lose that portion of the voter base, so majority votes for the two parties changes if the interests of the people themselves change, this happens on a state by state as well as a district by district basis. One thing this system prevents that does happen in European style democracies is no confidence and breaking of those coalitions, which cannot happen between elections in the US like it can in many other countries.
jonplackett 5y ago
If you're really wedded to one of those parties (which Americans seem to be - (here in the UK too, sigh)), then that makes perfect sense. At least this way you have a 50% chance of getting your guys in power. And if you don't it's just a waiting game til you do again.

by syshum 5y ago

betwixthewires 5y ago

I'm a fan of ranked choice voting, but I feel the need to add that the de facto 2 party system in the US functions similarly to political bloc majority government formation in European democracies. The difference is the US names the coalitions rather than the individual parties themselves. If you look at either US party you see very different voting trends on platform between different regions, you see sub parties (like justice Democrats or tea party) and a constant shift in platform to keep these groups appeased, very similar in effect to the process of compromise by which majority governments are formed in European democracies. IMO this is a symptom of majority rule and will occur regardless whether you name the parties or name the coalitions. What you wind up with is 2 blocs made up of diverse interests with enough overlapping or converging interest forming through negotiation.

nine_k 5y ago
One important difference is that coalitions are fluent, and party P can choose to join a coalition with party Q or party R, depending on their electoral perspectives and alignment of values, even if Q and R are bitter rivals and never would form a coalition between themselves. Those who voted for P won't mind because P would still mostly stick to its program, for which the voters voted. Can you imagine a reasonably large group of politicians to move from R to D or vice versa, and not lose the voices of their electorate?
- betwixthewires 5y ago
  Well, that process happens in the voter base, not the groups of elected representatives as it does in Europe. Basically an american "party" has to represent interests (at least with lip service as is often the case) of its constituent groups or lose that portion of the voter base, so majority votes for the two parties changes if the interests of the people themselves change, this happens on a state by state as well as a district by district basis. One thing this system prevents that does happen in European style democracies is no confidence and breaking of those coalitions, which cannot happen between elections in the US like it can in many other countries.

jonplackett 5y ago

If you're really wedded to one of those parties (which Americans seem to be - (here in the UK too, sigh)), then that makes perfect sense. At least this way you have a 50% chance of getting your guys in power. And if you don't it's just a waiting game til you do again.