Imagine the US had Proportional Representation.....

[frigidweirdo]

What would the political landscape look like?

How many parties do you think there would be.

If say there were 4 parties, how do you think they'd align themselves? \

Would it just be Reps v. Dems all over again, or would it be a lit different?

 

[bripat9643]

What would the political landscape look like?

How many parties do you think there would be.

If say there were 4 parties, how do you think they'd align themselves? \

Would it just be Reps v. Dems all over again, or would it be a lit different?

There would probably be a couple dozen parties. Dems and Repubs would get a much smaller percentage of the vote, say 30% each. Libertarians would probably get 10-15% of the vote. The rest of parties would be fringe, like the communists and the Green party, and get only 1-2% of the vote each. The rightwing parties would outnumber the leftwing parties. The later would never be able to form a ruling coalition.

 

[g5000]

It would be much, much messier. I've lived in countries that had multiple major parties. It isn't an improvement.

 

[frigidweirdo]

I've also lived in parties with PR and thought it was much, MUCH better. People have more of a say, people can go to the polls and vote for who they want, rather than just voting for one of two because "no one else has a chance".

Yes, it might get messier, but it also involves speaking to others a lot more. In the US everything is so polarized because the two main parties want everything neat and tidy. But this neat and tidy is worse than messy.

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

There would be a black party, a highspanic party, a woman party, a muslim party and a homo party. But there would be no white party, no male party, no hetero party, no Christian party, no Asian party and no assimilated American party.
Then the black party and the woman party and the highspanic party and the muslim party and the homo party would form a coalition and call themselves democrats.

 

[frigidweirdo]

There would be a black party, a highspanic party, a woman party, a muslim party and a homo party. But there would be no white party, no male party, no hetero party, no Christian party, no Asian party and no assimilated American party.
Then the black party and the woman party and the highspanic party and the muslim party and the homo party would form a coalition and call themselves democrats.

Well thought out, maybe you should submit this to your teacher.

 

[editec]

What would the political landscape look like?

How many parties do you think there would be.

If say there were 4 parties, how do you think they'd align themselves? \

Would it just be Reps v. Dems all over again, or would it be a lit different?

I think at first there'd be scores of parties.

But as long as CONGRESS is set up the way it is, as long as there's a winner takes all power system in our legislation, then a DUELOPOLOLY is about all we can expect.

The US might benefit from a parliamentary system.

At least in that case many parties are possible.