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OfflineRedstorm
Prince of Bugs
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Posts: 44,175
Last seen: 5 months, 8 days
Parity in the US political system
    #4650313 - 09/12/05 01:09 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

It seems that in the past 30 or so years (20 of them which I've been alive :wink:) that the differences between the Democrats and Republicans have been steadily decreasing. It has come to a point that in the year 2005, the only things different between the two are the respective party platforms.

These differences are superficial, though, as many of the issues carried on each party's platform are too hot to actual try to pass legislation on. Abortion, gay rights, state-provided health care, privatized social security, etc. are the main things that separate the two. Also, these are things that if one president tries to carry (see: Clinton w/ health care or Bush w/ SS), they will be horribly defeated in Congress.

Not only are we at a point in time where there is very little difference between the two, but the system has made it so that third-parties are marginalized. In a proportional system, pressure would be on the two largest parties to incorporate third-party ideas into their platforms, so majority-shaping coalitions can be formed. With the winner-take-all system of the US, the odds are strongly against the parties other than the dominant two.

What do you guys think? Have we reached a parity of our system. Has the diferences shrunk so much that both parties are seated firmly on each other's laps on the political spectrum?

(Note that I am talking about Democrats and Republicans, not necessarily "left" and "right")

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OfflineProsgeopax
Jaded, yethopeful?

Registered: 01/28/05
Posts: 1,258
Loc: Appearing at a mall near ...
Last seen: 18 years, 3 months
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
    #4650329 - 09/12/05 01:12 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

Yes.


--------------------
Money doesn't grow on trees, but deficits do grow under Bushes.

You can accept, reject, or examine and test any new idea that comes to you. The wise man chooses the third way.
- Tom Willhite

Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my opinions should I become aware of additional facts, the falsification of information or different perspectives. Articles written by others which I post may not necessarily reflect my opinions in part or in whole, my opinions may be in direct opposition, the topic may be one on which I have yet to formulate an opinion or have doubts about, an article may be posted solely with the intent to stimulate discussion or contemplation.

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Invisibleafoaf
CEO DBK?
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Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
Loc: Ripple's Heart
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
    #4650349 - 09/12/05 01:19 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

the right hand washes the left.

it's in their best interests to keep the 3rd parties
out and to maintain only superficial differences.

this way, they both win, occassionally trading off
power positions, leaving us all with just enough
bullshit to distract and argue over.


--------------------
All I know is The Growery is a place where losers who get banned here go.

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Offlinelonestar2004
Live to party,work to affordit.
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Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 8,978
Loc: South Texas
Last seen: 13 years, 2 days
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: afoaf]
    #4650358 - 09/12/05 01:20 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

bread and circuses


--------------------
America's debt problem is a "sign of leadership failure"

We have "reckless fiscal policies"

America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.

Americans deserve better

Barack Obama

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OfflineProsgeopax
Jaded, yethopeful?

Registered: 01/28/05
Posts: 1,258
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Last seen: 18 years, 3 months
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: lonestar2004]
    #4650384 - 09/12/05 01:24 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

Butter and guns.


--------------------
Money doesn't grow on trees, but deficits do grow under Bushes.

You can accept, reject, or examine and test any new idea that comes to you. The wise man chooses the third way.
- Tom Willhite

Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my opinions should I become aware of additional facts, the falsification of information or different perspectives. Articles written by others which I post may not necessarily reflect my opinions in part or in whole, my opinions may be in direct opposition, the topic may be one on which I have yet to formulate an opinion or have doubts about, an article may be posted solely with the intent to stimulate discussion or contemplation.

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Invisibleafoaf
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Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Prosgeopax]
    #4650400 - 09/12/05 01:29 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

the MP3 archives on the guns and butter site are
wrought with some awesome interviews.


--------------------
All I know is The Growery is a place where losers who get banned here go.

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OfflineSycronica
Seeker
Registered: 06/15/05
Posts: 376
Loc: Inside my head
Last seen: 18 years, 6 months
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
    #4650422 - 09/12/05 01:35 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

The only real difference is the persons name who is president, the real people who run our govt live private lives. The president is the mouthpiece, hero and fall guy. There role is largly cerimonial. Though they do seem to play a large role in forign relation. But the course of action taken is ultimatly NOT left up to them.


--------------------
Think for yourself. Question authority.

Forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice.

You can fool some people sometimes, but you can't fool all the people all the time.

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Offlinelonestar2004
Live to party,work to affordit.
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Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 8,978
Loc: South Texas
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Prosgeopax]
    #4650429 - 09/12/05 01:38 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Prosgeopax said:
Butter and guns.





You'd better have guns when someone comes to steal your butter????


--------------------
America's debt problem is a "sign of leadership failure"

We have "reckless fiscal policies"

America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.

Americans deserve better

Barack Obama

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InvisibleSilversoul
Rhizome
Male User Gallery

Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
    #4650861 - 09/12/05 03:11 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

One of the touted advantages of the two-party system is supposed to be that it has a tendency to root out the extremists and keep the political discourse more moderate, and therefore more stable. Unfortunately, it seems that since the main thing the two sides agree on most is that they both want to expand the size and scope of government, this means that the moderate position is one of government expansion, whereas someone who wants to reduce the size of government is considered extremist.


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Invisibleafoaf
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Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
Loc: Ripple's Heart
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Prosgeopax]
    #4650916 - 09/12/05 03:22 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)



--------------------
All I know is The Growery is a place where losers who get banned here go.

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Offlinelonestar2004
Live to party,work to affordit.
 User Gallery

Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 8,978
Loc: South Texas
Last seen: 13 years, 2 days
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: afoaf]
    #4651133 - 09/12/05 04:22 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

or "If you have to pay for guns, you can?t pay for all the butter."


--------------------
America's debt problem is a "sign of leadership failure"

We have "reckless fiscal policies"

America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.

Americans deserve better

Barack Obama

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Offlinedaimyo
Monticello

Registered: 05/13/04
Posts: 7,751
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: lonestar2004]
    #4651151 - 09/12/05 04:25 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

Buy guns, churn butter.  Lazy Americans :wink:


--------------------
"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

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InvisibleRandalFlagg
Stranger
Registered: 06/15/02
Posts: 15,608
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
    #4651814 - 09/12/05 06:48 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

The rhetoric of both parties sounds very opposed and different.  The actual actions and policies of both parties are very similar. 

But, you already knew that.  :smirk:

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Invisiblelooner2
ABBA fan

Registered: 06/20/04
Posts: 3,849
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: RandalFlagg]
    #4651850 - 09/12/05 06:58 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

I think there is a big difference in foreign policy decisions.

The left bows to the European non-intervention ideology.

The right does what they believe needs to be done.


--------------------
I am in love with Acidic_Sloth


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OfflineRedstorm
Prince of Bugs
Male

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Registered: 10/08/02
Posts: 44,175
Last seen: 5 months, 8 days
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
    #4651856 - 09/12/05 06:59 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Redstorm said:
(Note that I am talking about Democrats and Republicans, not necessarily "left" and "right")



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OfflineProsgeopax
Jaded, yethopeful?

Registered: 01/28/05
Posts: 1,258
Loc: Appearing at a mall near ...
Last seen: 18 years, 3 months
Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: looner2]
    #4652405 - 09/12/05 09:13 PM (18 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

looner2 said:
The left bows to the European non-intervention ideology.



How do Korea, Viet Nam, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia, 8 years in Iraq and bi-partisan support for Republican Presidents' actions in Iraq fit in with a 'non-intervention ideology'?

Quote:

The right does what they believe needs to be done.



'Needs to be done' = watching out for overseas big business interests and the Jewish lobby at the expense of the taxpayers, ignoring the potential for blowback and turning a blind eye to porous borders to provide cheap, cowed labor to business interests.


--------------------
Money doesn't grow on trees, but deficits do grow under Bushes.

You can accept, reject, or examine and test any new idea that comes to you. The wise man chooses the third way.
- Tom Willhite

Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my opinions should I become aware of additional facts, the falsification of information or different perspectives. Articles written by others which I post may not necessarily reflect my opinions in part or in whole, my opinions may be in direct opposition, the topic may be one on which I have yet to formulate an opinion or have doubts about, an article may be posted solely with the intent to stimulate discussion or contemplation.

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