Does any one else see the fact that while in the foundation of our country this two party system was necessary because of the massive distance our founding fathers had to travel and send post to get things done. Two apposing party lines were a necessary evil in days that horse was still the fastest mode of travel. But now when we can talk to people across the world in an instant the only function the party system now has is to move the people of power further from the back bone of this country the working people. The republicans are the big money movers in which they protect their own pockets over the welfare of the people, and the democrats want to support those that abuse the system instead of fixing the problem they are the band-aide givers and the people to tell you that it is all right. We care more about their personal lives like they were some sort of sudo-celebs when the things we should care about, how they vote; we barely hear a whisper about until their opponent from the other side of the line slams them with it. I am sorry I am a little fed up with the bureaucracy that is only there still because we allow it. And as my last point lobbyist? Really? I mean how can that really be an accepted form of government? When the people with power can have people in their ears with ties to companies like Enron? wooo i feel better thanks for reading this.
Your premise is off base.
The two party system was endorsed by Jefferson as he was not in agreement with the ruling party. As such, his idea was that there should be an opposition party. When he was elected, however, he systematically worked to eliminate all of the people of the opposition party from their positions.
It was not until the 1800's that the two party system took hold and those two parties have been changing ever since.
The two parties have always represented two groups. One group that desires that all decisions of importance be reserved to the the elite who have the greater knowledge and so should guide the actions and the destinies of the rest of us.
The other group holds that the the rest of us should have the hand on the tiller of the ship of state and the individuals of the elite should have the same control on the state as the rest of us as individuals and no more.
These positions create a spectrum and where your comfort zone is on this spectrum between surrendering all of your decisions to Washington and stripping Washington of all power will often dictate your party affiliation. Other factors for party I.D. are the inconsequential wedge issues that build coalitions like Union Membership or Social Control issues.
In good times, the centralization of power is just so much noise. These are not good times and the governmental control issues are front and center. The Big 0, Nancy and Harry have moved the country to a consideration of Constitutional powers.
We better buckle our seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy ride.