Most Americans are only dimly -- if at all -- aware of the fact that parties other than Republican and Democratic even exist. The problem with assigning the blame for this entirely to the populace, though, is that it's partially existing policies and practices that perpetuate the two-party system. Rules regarding campaign finance, ballot placement, debate eligibility, "equal airtime" availability, and so on pose a significant -- if not insurmountable -- barrier to entry for any aspiring third party. The PR wings and media connections of the entrenched parties provide them with ample opportunity to shout down and shut out the newcomers and perpetuate the "us vs. them" mentality. The "winner takes all" voting system means there's scarcely a way for a third party even to get a toehold from which to expand.
Many of today's voters had no hand - even indirectly - in electing the representatives that established these obstacles. Sadly, many of them are also easily swayed by polarizing polemic and emotional appeals. But I would posit that those who are ignorant of the existence of alternatives are at least as much victims of the two-party system as they are responsible for it.
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Most Americans are only dimly -- if at all -- aware of the fact that parties other than Republican and Democratic even exist. The problem with assigning the blame for this entirely to the populace, though, is that it's partially existing policies and practices that perpetuate the two-party system. Rules regarding campaign finance, ballot placement, debate eligibility, "equal airtime" availability, and so on pose a significant -- if not insurmountable -- barrier to entry for any aspiring third party. The PR wings and media connections of the entrenched parties provide them with ample opportunity to shout down and shut out the newcomers and perpetuate the "us vs. them" mentality. The "winner takes all" voting system means there's scarcely a way for a third party even to get a toehold from which to expand.
Many of today's voters had no hand - even indirectly - in electing the representatives that established these obstacles. Sadly, many of them are also easily swayed by polarizing polemic and emotional appeals. But I would posit that those who are ignorant of the existence of alternatives are at least as much victims of the two-party system as they are responsible for it.
Or City of Heroes.
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Wait, I think I remember how this works....(chooses Spell, expecting to find some water or ice magic) ...Wait, what the...?!
Not found in dictionary: "nbsp"
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