Americans for a multi-party democracy

[Gurdari]

any Americans for a multi-party democracy here?
Anyone want more than two choices for the rest of their lives?

 

[mattskramer]

any Americans for a multi-party democracy here?
Anyone want more than two choices for the rest of their lives?

We have a multi-party representative democracy. It is simply that the Democrats and Republicans are more popular.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_third_party_presidential_candidates,_2008

 

[Gurdari]

I think I am aware it is possible to have more than two parties...

what I should ask is "Who among us gives a shit - and what can we do about it"?

 

[mattskramer]

I think I am aware it is possible to have more than two parties...

what I should ask is "Who among us gives a shit - and what can we do about it"?

Uh. We have more than two parties. Encourage people to vote for candidates that are in less popular parties.

 

[Gunny]

any Americans for a multi-party democracy here?
Anyone want more than two choices for the rest of their lives?

While the smoke and mirrors game says we have a choice, we actually don't. It all comes down to who spends the most and has the best PR, and how gullible the voters are willing to be at any given time.

 

[Gurdari]

Uh. We have more than two parties.

Whoa - which ones?
Who are their candidates?

 

[eots]

any Americans for a multi-party democracy here?
Anyone want more than two choices for the rest of their lives?

thats funny you still believe we live in a two party state

 

[Gurdari]

thats funny you still believe we live in a two party state

Well, is it funny that you have only two parties to choose from?
Is it funny you could say the same thing 30 years ago?
When is the last time the President was neither Republican nor Democrat?

 

[nibor]

Well, is it funny that you have only two parties to choose from?
Is it funny you could say the same thing 30 years ago?
When is the last time the President was neither Republican nor Democrat?

Since neo cons took over both parties with the same agenduhs and only use party monikers to keep the public divided..................

 

[mattskramer]

Whoa - which ones?
Who are their candidates?

There are third party candidates. I grant you that it is easier for such candidates to get their names out if they have much money to spend. Yet, for people who are interested in learning what is out there besides the Democrat party and Republican party, all that they really have to do is search the internet. I think that it is up to the average American citizen to educate himself about the possibilities. See below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_third_party_presidential_candidates,_2008

Green Party candidates are Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, and Kat Swift.

Constitution Party candidates are Don J. Grundmann, Bryan Malatesta, Max Riekse, and Diane Beall Templin.

Libertarian Party candidates are James Burns, Daniel Imperato, Bob Jackson, Mike Jingozian, Steve Kubby, Robert Milnes, George Phillies, Wayne Allyn Root, and Christine Smith.

Prohibition Party candidate is Gene Amondson.

Socialist Party candidate is Brian Moore.

 

[eots]

of course anty party hoping to have any success would need the blessing of the council on foreign relations or the controlled media would destroy them

 

[the3rdparty]

I belive we should get rid of the two parties and let people run on there merit and there platform, not just one party.

 

[greenpartyaz]

I fully support a multi party election, with up to six (if possible) parties. It would make things interesting. It could be like an episode of Survivor, one party gets eliminated from contention. I could see it now. Where have you gone Ross Perot? Jesus loves you more than you will know, woo, woo, woo!

 

[Zoomie1980]

any Americans for a multi-party democracy here?
Anyone want more than two choices for the rest of their lives?

Not ever. The two party system is one of the cornerstones of our success and stability. We only change governments every four years. We have a very successful system and that includes the Electoral college, another cornerstone of American political stability

 

[Zoomie1980]

There are third party candidates. I grant you that it is easier for such candidates to get their names out if they have much money to spend. Yet, for people who are interested in learning what is out there besides the Democrat party and Republican party, all that they really have to do is search the internet. I think that it is up to the average American citizen to educate himself about the possibilities. See below:

Third party (United States) presidential candidates, 2008 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Green Party candidates are Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, and Kat Swift.

Constitution Party candidates are Don J. Grundmann, Bryan Malatesta, Max Riekse, and Diane Beall Templin.

Libertarian Party candidates are James Burns, Daniel Imperato, Bob Jackson, Mike Jingozian, Steve Kubby, Robert Milnes, George Phillies, Wayne Allyn Root, and Christine Smith.

Prohibition Party candidate is Gene Amondson.

Socialist Party candidate is Brian Moore.

The last serious third party candidate was Ross Perot. That lead to Bill Clinton winning the presidency with the smallest percentage of popular vote in US history, 42%. Almost 100% of Perot's supporters were pulled from Bush Sr. Without Perot, there would never have been any Clintons on the US political center stage.

 

[editec]

any Americans for a multi-party democracy here?
Anyone want more than two choices for the rest of their lives?

I am afraid that our entire Congressional system is really only geared up for two parties.

If we would TRULY like a political system where multiple parties actually make some sense, then I propose that we morph into a parlimentary system.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Not ever. The two party system is one of the cornerstones of our success and stability. We only change governments every four years. We have a very successful system and that includes the Electoral college, another cornerstone of American political stability

What these people do not understand is that the Constitution would have to be amended or the President and Vice President will be chosen by Congress. But then knowledge of how our system works and our Constitution are not high on these guys list of things to learn.

 

[editec]

What these people do not understand is that the Constitution would have to be amended or the President and Vice President will be chosen by Congress. But then knowledge of how our system works and our Constitution are not high on these guys list of things to learn.

I don't think I actually understand your point, here.

Under what circumstances would:

the Constitution would have to be amended or the President and Vice President will be chosen by Congress.

In the event that we dismissed the electoral college?

Yes, that would take a change in the constitution, I suppose.

But how we would then elect our POTUS and VPOTUS would depend on what we changed our constitution to, would it not?

We could just as easily let the popular vote decide as Congress.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

The relevant Amendment to the Constitution.

LII: Constitution

And the part that applies.

the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice.

Cut to the chase, the President must win the actual majority of electoral votes available.

If we have 3 or more people that win lots of electoral votes that simply won't happen and Congress will choose amongst the top three who will be President and Vice President.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

I don't think I actually understand your point, here.

Under what circumstances would:



In the event that we dismissed the electoral college?

Yes, that would take a change in the constitution, I suppose.

But how we would then elect our POTUS and VPOTUS would depend on what we changed our constitution to, would it not?

We could just as easily let the popular vote decide as Congress.

Suppose? The electoral college is PART of the Constitution, it would REQUIRE an amendment to eliminate it.