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The simple solution is voting system reform. The two party system is a symptom of first-past-the-post voting. Switch to plurality voting and suddenly the qual

The simple solution is voting system reform. The two party system is a symptom of first-past-the-post voting. Switch to plurality voting and suddenly the quality of representation skyrockets. The system isn't designed to maximize equitable representation and is very resistant to change.

Chris2048 4y ago
But things that the two-parties agree on (to not implement) will have very little political willpower to implement. And a system that gives more power to parties that are not the two-parties is such a thing.
- willis936 4y ago
  That's the "resistant to change" part. NH has the highest number of state reps per capita and three plurality bills were shot down this year by an overwhelming majority. From the richest superdelegate to the smallest fry: every politician toes the line right now. https://www.concordmonitor.com/Should-NH-adopt-ranked-choice-voting-44877882 https://www.concordmonitor.com/Should-NH-adopt-ranked-choice...
yucky 4y ago
That is often repeated, but not based on facts. Several nations have FPTP voting and more than two parties, including Canada and the UK.
- moistly 4y ago
  Canada is very rapidly heading towards a two-party system. The Greens barely count as a party, the NDP have joined forces with the Liberals, the Conservative-Reform Alliance Party is desperately trying to subsume the breakaway PPC Party, and the Bloc is specific to one province. Every election boils down to a choice between two parties: Liberal and Conservative. When the Conservatives are too socially regressive (“barbaric cultural practices hotline”, Pierre Poilievre) many NDP voters hold their nose and vote Liberal. If the Conservatices continue down their current path, Canada will inevitably become a strictly two-party country: the NDP will cease to exist as an alternative.
- breadbreadbread 4y ago
  Im not sure every governments voting system is comparable. THe nature of the parties certainly plays a factor. American R and D parties are so heavily polarized and unable to work together, and the existing voting system does not provide a path out of that. Yes other countries have other parties, but other systemic issues affect how viable they are.
throwoutway 4y ago
Even if they don’t, the TV broadcast of presidential debates is a duopoly. If they were required to have five candidates, then perhaps the US would have better executive branch

Chris2048 4y ago

But things that the two-parties agree on (to not implement) will have very little political willpower to implement. And a system that gives more power to parties that are not the two-parties is such a thing.

willis936 4y ago
That's the "resistant to change" part. NH has the highest number of state reps per capita and three plurality bills were shot down this year by an overwhelming majority. From the richest superdelegate to the smallest fry: every politician toes the line right now. https://www.concordmonitor.com/Should-NH-adopt-ranked-choice-voting-44877882 https://www.concordmonitor.com/Should-NH-adopt-ranked-choice...

yucky 4y ago

That is often repeated, but not based on facts. Several nations have FPTP voting and more than two parties, including Canada and the UK.

moistly 4y ago
Canada is very rapidly heading towards a two-party system. The Greens barely count as a party, the NDP have joined forces with the Liberals, the Conservative-Reform Alliance Party is desperately trying to subsume the breakaway PPC Party, and the Bloc is specific to one province. Every election boils down to a choice between two parties: Liberal and Conservative. When the Conservatives are too socially regressive (“barbaric cultural practices hotline”, Pierre Poilievre) many NDP voters hold their nose and vote Liberal. If the Conservatices continue down their current path, Canada will inevitably become a strictly two-party country: the NDP will cease to exist as an alternative.
breadbreadbread 4y ago
Im not sure every governments voting system is comparable. THe nature of the parties certainly plays a factor. American R and D parties are so heavily polarized and unable to work together, and the existing voting system does not provide a path out of that. Yes other countries have other parties, but other systemic issues affect how viable they are.

throwoutway 4y ago

Even if they don’t, the TV broadcast of presidential debates is a duopoly. If they were required to have five candidates, then perhaps the US would have better executive branch