Let’s start this one with a little assignment.
Think about your best friend. It could be a high school buddy, a coworker, a family member or even your spouse. Compare them to yourself. Do you agree with everything they think? With no acceptions. Everything.
Of course you don’t. That idea is just absurd. That’s the best part about your best friend. You can disagree about something and then go back to being friends after a spirited argument. That’s what it’s all about.
So I’ll ask this, why the hell are there only 2 major parties in the US?
If people can’t agree 100% with their best friends, why would anyone agree 100% with someone they haven’t even met? That’s insanity.
No matter the election in this country, it is almost always between Republicans and Democrats. Sure there are 3rd party candidates out there, but let’s be honest, they never have a chance. What a lot of people are forced to do is hold their nose and vote for the “lesser of two evils.”
The majority of Americans fall somewhere in the middle of the two major parties. I’ll use myself for example. I agree with some things that Republicans believe; like personal responsibility and freedom of speech. On the other hand, I agree with some things the Democrats say; like a woman’s right to choose. I typically choose to vote for someone who is closest to the middle of the political spectrum.
Unfortunately, whoever wins the Democratic and Republican primaries are the only real options for most positions. Why should these two parties be the ones to make the decisions? Why shouldn’t most of us be represented, rather than those few who agree along party lines?
Besides, the two party system we have breeds conflict. Not only does it create a divide amongst the people that are elected, but it creates a divide between those who voted for them. The “with us or against us” attitude that exists in the political system has created most, if not all, of this country’s problems. Even worse for us, the politicians that have the stones to reach across party lines to get stuff done are vilified by their party. These folks are the ones that should be celebrated. People actually trying to hear other people’s opinions and try to come to some kind of compromise.
The solution to this problem is as easy as easy can get. Abolish political parties.
Now, this sounds easy. But I am a realist. It’ll never happen.
There are two major reasons why it won’t happen. The first, power. The two major parties are the ones that would make the decision to abolish themselves. Why would they do that? They have the power. Nobody willingly gives up that much control. That’s like having congress people vote on whether they should get a raise. (FYI That actually happens in this country)
The second reason, money. There are billions of dollars tied up in both political parties. They throw money around like it is going out of style. Having a stranglehold on the political system gives each party leverage to special interest groups that want some kind of legislation past. Therefore, these groups will give piles of cash to the parties trying to win favor. That’s why you see these huge conventions and events going on around the country sponsored by the RNC or DNC. Famed professional wrestler Ted DiBiase said it best, “Everyone’s got a price.” The parties have the capital to pay a lot of people’s price and get stuff done.
Like it or not, the majority of Americans agree with me. Even those who disagree on almost everything. Unfortunately, those in power will not allow the majority to be heard. What needs to happen, is there needs to be a general election question across the country that just reads: Should political parties be abolished in the United States? Yes or No. Make each candidate and politician run on their own platform and be decided based on their stance on issues, not whether they have a D or an R next to their name.