Get more political parties into the American Congress

Dylan:

You're probably right when it comes to the coalition process but I think America desperately needs a third or even fourth party in Congress. Plus, if there are only few (let's say more than two and less than six) parties then forming a coalition becomes relatively easy.

But the most important point is that a multi-party system would get rid of this "black-and -white-painting" which Democrats and Republicans have been doing over the last years, maybe decades. It would create more "competition" and therefore more thought out concepts of how to change the country for the better. Parties wouldn't concentrate on harming the opponent but on winning voters -- and because you and I, and especially Stephen, are very critical they would have to make their best effort to do this...

Of course their is a chance of a more or less powerless government because no party has a majority in Senate or Congress but let's face it -- sometimes making compromises may be better than doing the wrong thing for four or maybe eight years without any pressure from other parties...

your point is well taken dylansuher. i may reconsider my position.

i just think that a strong third party could put pressure on the republican and democratic parties to not be so evil/bad/stupid/misguided/dishonest. they're just awful right now.

You know, it's just not clear to me that a three or more party system would improve American democracy. I look at three or more party parliamentary systems, and even though it's true that you don't have to compromise your views as much as a voter, I fear the instability, and also the more gruesome aspects of coalition building. I look at Israel, where Olmert has to kiss Shas and Avigdor Lieberman's ass if he so much as wants a bathroom installed in the Knesset, and I don't see a model I think should be implemented. But if someone can convince me, I'm open to the possibility that it is far better than what we have now.