Feasibility - One Party for All

[Townhallsavoy]

Within my lifetime (27 years old), Republican and Democrats will merge into one party. 

True/False?

[Pell City Tiger]

They're pretty much there now. With each election cycle, its getting harder and harder for me to drag my ass out to the poll to cast my vote. I find myself voting against someone rather than voting for the other.

We need a 3rd party to come along - one that doesn't offer a ding-dong or kook as their candidate - to give the average American voter a Gods honest choice.

[Townhallsavoy]

They're pretty much there now.

Agreed.

With each election cycle, its getting harder and harder for me to drag my ass out to the poll to cast my vote. I find myself voting against someone rather than voting for the other.

Same here.  And that's exactly how they want it.  The people that do vote are voting for the person that can save them from the evil, oppressive bad guy.  It's only a matter of time before one party emerges as the one that saves us from all of the bad candidates.  I think many people are vulnerable to this as more and more talk is focused on bipartisanship. 

We need a 3rd party to come along - one that doesn't offer a ding-dong or kook as their candidate - to give the average American voter a Gods honest choice.

I think the Tea Party was the closest thing we had to a legitimate 3rd party emergence.  Even if one disagrees with their premises, it's impossible to ignore the vast amount of support it received across the country. 

However, it's fizzling out.  Too many are dependent on their saving party.  Too many conservatives fear Obama being reelected and are deferring to Mitt Romney despite his un-conservative record. 

In fact, I'd say that 3rd parties (Tea Party, Green Party, Reform Party) are perfect fits for the one party for all domination we'll soon see.  Democrats and Republicans are not very different and are both manipulative.  What better way to stay at the top than to provide a faux-party to run against? 

I should note that I just finished 1984 by George Orwell. 

[GH2001]

They're pretty much there now.

I'd would say that is partly true. The mainstream of each party are both bad to me. You still have some purists in each party that actually adhere to each party's founding principles i.e. Tea Party, Blue Dog Demos. But the establishment in each party want the same end with different means really.

[Saniflush]

I should note that I just finished 1984 by George Orwell.

Funny.  I just got through rereading "Animal Farm".  Some animals are more equal than others.

[Tarheel]

Within my lifetime (27 years old), Republican and Democrats will merge into one party. 

True/False?

False.

Fundamentally the Republican Party is different from the Democrat Party.  Read the party platforms.  I don't ever see this political merging happening.  How can one make the claim that they are the same in the face of the House standing in full, open, political opposition to the president and the Senate?  I do see the Republican Party merging with a movement like the Tea Party Movement down the road but the problem with many of the Tea Party folk today is that they are so hell-bent on forcing the social issues that it alienates people who aren't but who are still Republicans.

A third party will never be successful in this nation; I've written on this subject in the forum before; our bicameral, republican form of government was not designed to handle a third party or fourth or fifth party for that matter.  It is a silly notion in the current circumstances unless you want to fundamentally change our government to parliamentary-style like the Europeans where multiple parties are accommodated (generally to a lesser degree of success).

[Kaos]

False.

Fundamentally the Republican Party is different from the Democrat Party.  Read the party platforms.  I don't ever see this political merging happening.  How can one make the claim that they are the same in the face of the House standing in full, open, political opposition to the president and the Senate?  I do see the Republican Party merging with a movement like the Tea Party Movement down the road but the problem with many of the Tea Party folk today is that they are so hell-bent on forcing the social issues that it alienates people who aren't but who are still Republicans.

A third party will never be successful in this nation; I've written on this subject in the forum before; our bicameral, republican form of government was not designed to handle a third party or fourth or fifth party for that matter.  It is a silly notion in the current circumstances unless you want to fundamentally change our government to parliamentary-style like the Europeans where multiple parties are accommodated (generally to a lesser degree of success).

The Whigs worry about you.



There have been third parties before that grew powerful enough to sweep away one of the "major" parties.   It could happen again.  But there won't ever be just one and there won't ever be three of relatively equal strength.

[Tarheel]

The Whigs worry about you.
...

There have been third parties before that grew powerful enough to sweep away one of the "major" parties.   It could happen again.  But there won't ever be just one and there won't ever be three of relatively equal strength.

I don't disagree with this notion as it certainly can happen as a process but the end result is always two parties as the founders intended.  Currently I don't see the Democrat Party or the Republican Party going the way of the Whigs or merging with one another.

[Tarheel]

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I like that image by the way.  Clever.

[GH2001]

I like that image by the way.  Clever.

This one is funny too....

[Tarheel]

This one is funny too....

I know that some folk (perhaps even on this board) like Ron Paul but when it comes to his foreign policy a single  is not enough...