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Sunday, September 17, 2023
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Tuesday, September 5, 2023
The Master Race
Thursday, February 23, 2023
A Party of Two
The two-party system in the United States is a powerful force that impacts the political landscape in many ways. It has been argued that this structure of two dominant parties inherently creates a “rigged” system that stacks the deck in favor of the two established parties. This system of two parties has been in place for many years and has been difficult to break. As a result, it has been extremely difficult for third parties to gain enough traction to gain ballot access, let alone achieve electoral success.
This system of two parties creates insurmountable hurdles for third parties to overcome to gain ballot access. In many states, third-party candidates are required to collect a significant number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. This process can be both costly and time-consuming and can be especially daunting for third parties that lack the resources of the two established parties. Furthermore, in some states, the requirements to gain ballot access are so strict that it is virtually impossible for third parties to qualify.
The two-party system also creates a situation where the two major parties are in a position to control the issues discussed and the public discourse. This control of the narrative can be detrimental to the American electorate, as it limits the range of options and ideas that are available to them and can lead to a false sense of only two choices for voters. Furthermore, the lack of competition within the two-party system can lead to issues of complacency and stagnation, as there is no incentive for the two major parties to make real changes or innovations.
One possible way of eliminating this party of two would be to fund election campaigns publicly - this would also help curb the epidemic of dark money and special interests currying favor in government while making it impossible for third parties to compete. However, the current two parties would never let this happen. It would be an existential threat to them. It would also be the first time the two parties worked together on anything in decades, possibly. (That statement may seem to catastrophize this possibility to some but it seems to have a ring of truth.)
Overall, the two-party system in the United States creates a “rigged” system that is difficult to break and has far-reaching consequences for the American electorate. The system limits the choices available to the public and can lead to a lack of innovation and progress. Third parties are almost completely excluded from the process and have virtually no chance of achieving success. The only way to truly give the American people more choices and to ensure that their voices are heard is to break the two-party system and open up the process to more voices and more competition.