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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs
Registered: 10/08/02
Posts: 44,175
Last seen: 5 months, 8 days
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Parity in the US political system
#4650313 - 09/12/05 01:09 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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It seems that in the past 30 or so years (20 of them which I've been alive ) 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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Prosgeopax
Jaded, yethopeful?
Registered: 01/28/05
Posts: 1,258
Loc: Appearing at a mall near ...
Last seen: 18 years, 3 months
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
#4650329 - 09/12/05 01:12 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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afoaf
CEO DBK?
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
Loc: Ripple's Heart
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
#4650349 - 09/12/05 01:19 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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lonestar2004
Live to party,work to affordit.
Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 8,978
Loc: South Texas
Last seen: 13 years, 2 days
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: afoaf]
#4650358 - 09/12/05 01:20 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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Prosgeopax
Jaded, yethopeful?
Registered: 01/28/05
Posts: 1,258
Loc: Appearing at a mall near ...
Last seen: 18 years, 3 months
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: lonestar2004]
#4650384 - 09/12/05 01:24 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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afoaf
CEO DBK?
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
Loc: Ripple's Heart
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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) |
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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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Sycronica
Seeker
Registered: 06/15/05
Posts: 376
Loc: Inside my head
Last seen: 18 years, 6 months
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
#4650422 - 09/12/05 01:35 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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lonestar2004
Live to party,work to affordit.
Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 8,978
Loc: South Texas
Last seen: 13 years, 2 days
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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) |
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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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Silversoul
Rhizome
Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
#4650861 - 09/12/05 03:11 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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afoaf
CEO DBK?
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
Loc: Ripple's Heart
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Prosgeopax]
#4650916 - 09/12/05 03:22 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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-------------------- All I know is The Growery is a place where losers who get banned here go.
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lonestar2004
Live to party,work to affordit.
Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 8,978
Loc: South Texas
Last seen: 13 years, 2 days
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: afoaf]
#4651133 - 09/12/05 04:22 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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daimyo
Monticello
Registered: 05/13/04
Posts: 7,751
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: lonestar2004]
#4651151 - 09/12/05 04:25 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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Buy guns, churn butter. Lazy Americans
--------------------
"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
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RandalFlagg
Stranger
Registered: 06/15/02
Posts: 15,608
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
#4651814 - 09/12/05 06:48 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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.
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looner2
ABBA fan
Registered: 06/20/04
Posts: 3,849
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: RandalFlagg]
#4651850 - 09/12/05 06:58 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs
Registered: 10/08/02
Posts: 44,175
Last seen: 5 months, 8 days
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: Redstorm]
#4651856 - 09/12/05 06:59 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Redstorm said: (Note that I am talking about Democrats and Republicans, not necessarily "left" and "right")
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Prosgeopax
Jaded, yethopeful?
Registered: 01/28/05
Posts: 1,258
Loc: Appearing at a mall near ...
Last seen: 18 years, 3 months
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Re: Parity in the US political system [Re: looner2]
#4652405 - 09/12/05 09:13 PM (18 years, 6 months ago) |
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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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