Does the U.S. have a two party system, or a one party system with two branches?

Question

Okay, I know the official line is that it is a two party system. And of course I know there are always other parties that get collectively ignored by the mainstream media. But someone said to me the other day that the Republican and the Democratic parties were really just branches of the same party, following the same basic agenda, but trying to make it look like they are different.

I didn't have time to get more information at the time, but based on some things I've seen in the past 20+ years since I've been old enough to vote, I think he might be right. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

The problem is all the politicians have gone out to party and have stuck us with the bill. The people know it they just feel hopeless trying to stop it because they are to busy trying to scrape two pennies together to feed their families that seem to be rapidly falling apart.

Answer 2

Seems like a one-party system with two branches. The "Clinton" Democrats are the "Republican-Lites" or the members of the Democratic Leadership Council that buckles for Democrats leaning Republican.

That's what we're seeing now, the split in the Democratic Party between the Republican-Democrats (or Clintonites) and the REAL Democrats like Russ Feingold, Sherrod Brown, Charlie Dingle, Barack Obama, Dennis Kucinich, the courageous Barbara Boxer who was the only Senate Democrat who stood up with the Black Caucus to protest the Ohio vote tally of the 2004 Pres. Elections.

Slowly but surely and thanks to the Internet, progressives and liberals are forcing the lazy Dems in Congress to do what they've promised or we vote them out.

  

Answer 3

That is probably the best analysis I've ever heard of our so called Democratic political system.

The American people have been fooled for decades in to believing that if you don't vote either Dem or Rep. your just waisting your vote, well currently right now the majority of voters are Independent who pick a side during election time & they go with the one that matches their values or ideals.

If a true Independant with real ans. ran he/she would geta lot of votes but would have to fight tooth & nail for liberal ( or any) media coverage.

Answer 4

Look at it like this: Does any one tree, or plant produce two kinds of fruit? A tree is always known by its fruit.... And last time I checked, Liberal Democrats and Conservative Republicans have never grown on the same tree!

Answer 5

I agree that it is a one party system with two flavors.

There seems to be some serious tension within the parties right now, and we might actually see some changes.

Answer 6

Neither - America has a multi-party system but it usually happens that two are the most popular.  In US politics all the way back to before the revolution they decided somewhat along the lines of conservative and democrat, or a party serving the needs of the wealthy vs. a party serving the needs of the common man.

What you heard is wrong, they both came directly from the Whigs and Torries - different parties.  Plus they hate each others guts so how can anyone think that.  Sounds like something anti-American Muslims made up.

Answer 7

Good question, liked the answer, "one party two flavors" - what one party can't get accomplished it's turned over to the other party to accomplish.  Republicans were wetting there pants to get NAFTA signed, what was the first thing Billie Boy, Demo.. do when he got into office sign NAFTA, Dem"s want to get the guns, when the time comes guess who going to take them.  

Answer 8

Actually there is a third party registered in all 50 States, the Libertarian party. It takes from both. It is normally liberal on social issues and conservative on fiscal issues.

Republicans believe in “Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for life”

Democrats believe in “Give a man a fish stolen from those who have more, and he will vote for you forever”

Libertarians are more of a live and let live concept

Answer 9

one party mos def

:)

Answer 10

If you look back in history, there have always been two major parties, they just sort of live in flux.  180 years ago, the Democratic party was created because Andrew Jackson believed that the Democratic-Republicans (like Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe) weren't doing enough to make sure that the government didn't get too powerful.  (He then proceeded to bankrupt the country in under 10 years, but oh well.)

150 years ago, the Republican party was developed to stand against slavery.  When that disappeared, it started leaning toward other issues, such as the growth of industry during the Industrial Revolution.

However, neither has really had a pet issue in a long time, other than bickering over how the war should be run.  The only people that really feel that they are two actual parties are the folks in Washington, who are sworn to never get along with anyone of the opposite party.  I think I might really agree with you on this one.

Now if we could just bring Congress out of the second grade and make them work together for once, things might actually run the way they're supposed to.

Answer 11

In its *Mandate*, the U.S. Constitution allows for the formation of MANY "Politically-persuaded Parties" to exist as determined by the "Popular Vote" of *All of the Eligible Citizens* throughout the *Nation*. The *Present-Day* political situation has degenerated into a  *choice* for the average voter for either the National Democratic Convention Nominee or the National Republican Convention Nominee to choose the 'One and Only' person who should be elected to be the "Leader of our National Involvement in Home (U.S.A.) and *Universal* Affairs for the next 4 years -- come 'h**l, peace, or HIGH WATER!"

We Citizens of this Great, Powerful Nation *DO* have the privilege of CHOOSING -- WHOMEVER OR WHATEVER WE WISH -- whenever we go to *our* recognized voting place -- to *HAVE OUR VOTE COUNTED -- that it WILL BE DONE!