Yesterday I wrote briefly (but not for the first time) about the problems I believe have arisen under the current two-party system in America. I am hardly the first to recognize that incredible problems exist, however solutions are harder to come by than complaints. Below, I will describe what parties I believe would emerge to represent the more focused interests of Americans in the event that the stranglehold Republicans and Democrats have on the system were ever loosened.
It is one thing to complain about perceived inadequacies; it is another entirely to create viable alternatives. So what might I propose? I believe that a robust multi-party system might do the trick. If there were five or six parties, they could each represent core ideals rather than the current scenario of Two Big Tents where the mixing of strange bedfellows (think Big Business and the Religious Right) lead to internecine horse-trading to appease numerous interests to the point where almost nothing can be accomplished even before issues get to Congress.
How would a multi-party system change this? Well, for one, people could choose representatives who very closely follow their core beliefs rather than a Republican from the religious right just because one happens to be a small businessman or a Democrat who is for high taxes just because one's number one priority is diversity issues.
It is one thing to complain about perceived inadequacies; it is another entirely to create viable alternatives. So what might I propose? I believe that a robust multi-party system might do the trick. If there were five or six parties, they could each represent core ideals rather than the current scenario of Two Big Tents where the mixing of strange bedfellows (think Big Business and the Religious Right) lead to internecine horse-trading to appease numerous interests to the point where almost nothing can be accomplished even before issues get to Congress.
How would a multi-party system change this? Well, for one, people could choose representatives who very closely follow their core beliefs rather than a Republican from the religious right just because one happens to be a small businessman or a Democrat who is for high taxes just because one's number one priority is diversity issues.
Greens could be green. Christians could choose representatives who espoused their core beliefs. There could be parties that emphasized progressive social values, business interests, gun rights and anything else at issue. Yet, of course, this analysis still doesn’t explain how actual work would get done. To that point, I believe that gridlock would be loosened under such a system, and that parties would form coalitions representing the values and beliefs of a majority of Americans on most issues.
Some might rightly say that sounds a lot like a parliamentary system. In some ways it does. However, very critically, and unlike most parliaments, having multiple parties would not foreclose certain entrenched American approaches to issues like political committees, checks and balances and staggered elections.
I think one critical thing to do would be to outline just what I think party lines would look like if most Americans had their druthers. I think there would be a Libertarian party dedicated to reducing government and government’s role in the economy and people’s lives. I think there would be a Green party dedicated to the environment and alternative energy. I think a remaining Republican party could be just as good as any other at representing business interests. I think Democrats could be the party of social progressivity. And finally, there could be a party whose platform would focus on social conservatism (loosely representing what is now the religious right).
Maybe there would be others regionally and time and circumstances would certainly facilitate changes. In any case, the point is that these would be very focused groups with very focused interests who would well serve constituents sharing their core platform beliefs. For more on what results these battle lines could result in, check in again as I plan to post on just that topic over the next few days.
Maybe there would be others regionally and time and circumstances would certainly facilitate changes. In any case, the point is that these would be very focused groups with very focused interests who would well serve constituents sharing their core platform beliefs. For more on what results these battle lines could result in, check in again as I plan to post on just that topic over the next few days.
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