Really People?

[hsifeng]

http://www.presidentpolls2008.com/

Look, Obama isn't my first (second or third) choice....but McCAIN people? Really? How is this suddenly a 'break even' poll?

Comments

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I disagree with the argument against a multi-party system being predicated on the 'toning down' of alternate party choices. While you are no doubt correct that some of the nuttier platform statements of *any* party dissuade people from wanting that party to have enough power to dismantle our government structure and rebuild it in their own image: I would counter by saying that the *more* parties you have, the *less* likely it is that any one can gain a majority, thereby gaining the power to make those sort of radical changes possible.

By having - lets say - five parties, each with it’s own strong base and support system, you would manage to get more than two sides on any given debate. Compromises would be more than just ‘he said, she said’ affairs with only two (supposedly) polar opposite viewpoints to choose from.

Furthermore, I think multiparty systems would be much harder for lobbyists (those bastards) to operate in. If you have only two sides to bribe, I mean, “contribute to” then you have a much cheaper (relatively) lobby cost.

And yes, I fucking hate lobbyists: Fuck you assholes for buying off this countries political process. And fuck career politicians for taking the checks all the way to the bank. In the Bahamas of course….

[docryder.livejournal.com]

The oddball policy planks of the smaller parties scare Americans because they only see issues as black or white. So, if the smaller parties get in, they will have total control (from the average American's point of view). Thus, a two-party system works, because it plays to the "Black Hats vs. White Hats" mentality the average person has.

Your argument for multiple parties (too much for the lobbyists to bribe) is the exactly why the lobbyists work against it. It costs them less to manipulate two-parties. So they spend lots of money to promote a two-party system as well as manipulate those parties.