I am adding another topic to discuss in order to form a more perfect union. I think the 2 party system is broken because it limits an individual, both common and elected, to often take a stance based on party affilation rather than the merits of the proposed idea or action.

The only party is the independant party. The primaries take the two top candidates and pit them in November, no party funds, no national committees, just individuals running on ideas.

I know this is kinda short, I wrote a long one, but when I went to sumit it, IE had a problem.

So what say you? Do you think the disposal of both major party's would help or hinder bringing American together

I think I'll hijack this thread, LOL...

Being the Jeffersonian that I am, I think that doing away with the two party system would help to help heal the rift that seems to be getting bigger. When Jefferson founded the Democrat-Republican Party, he did so because he felt he had to. He didn't like the idea of political parties, but he knew that if he didn't counter Hamilton and the Federalists, then his ideals of what the Republic should be would be lost, permanently...

At this point, things have gotten so bad that the moment anyone even mentions "Republican" or "Democrat", the partisan walls go up so fast that no amount of reasoning seems to be possible. But taking down those two parties would be an enormously difficult process. There's an awful lot of money involved, and they have been in existence so long that people seem to have accepted them as eternal. Most of electorate still goes to the polls with their tunnel vision on, looking for the "D" or the "R". That's what has got to change, people going blindly to the polls...

And for all of the political banter that goes on in the media, which might be seen as educating the electorate, I think it's actually making things worse, because we're not getting the whole truth. There's too much smoke and mirrors crap going on. Taking down that monstrosity is an even bigger challenge...

I think it could be a good thing, I also think it would never happen.
The closest we would ever come is if (like in a movie I saw) a R & a D get the gather on the same ticket.
And they would have to be two very well known, in fact I think 2012 would be a great time for this to happen, if who ever they were could pull the tea party & other independents with them.
Lets see how about Sarah Palin & Ron Paul

I think it could be a good thing, I also think it would never happen.
The closest we would ever come is if (like in a movie I saw) a R & a D get the gather on the same ticket.
And they would have to be two very well known, in fact I think 2012 would be a great time for this to happen, if who ever they were could pull the tea party & other independents with them.
Lets see how about Sarah Palin & Ron Paul

You are omitting the left side of the spectrum entirely, so how is that ticket uniting?

But the thing is, we seem to be self limiting. Oh we can't do that, it is too hard, it is impossible. Personally, I think one of the reason's we are sliding as a nation is the refusal to think outside the box. So we stay with what we know isn't working, because it is too hard to change?

Surely, mico, you must be joking...

Palin and Paul? Really?! You'd have every Democrat in the country screaming to high heaven...

(BTW, at this point I don't think Dr. Paul is interested in running for President again. He'll be close to 80 in 2012. It'd be better to let him stay in Congress...)

As far as a Democrat/Republican ticket goes, I could see someone like Joe Biden teamed up with maybe Colin Powell or Tom Tancredo (sp.?). As much as I laugh at Biden's gaffes, I've always sorta liked him. Or maybe you pick one of the blue dog Democrats, and team them up with Olympia Snowe...

I don't know, but at some point I do think that the American people will finally tire of this two-party system, and the accompanying annoyances, and maybe then we can get back to what we do best...

Being the best.

The dismantling of the two party system, though sounds good in theory, it is simply not possible. Most of the people have never had anything but in-fighting and power grabs. Neither side is even remotely interested. You can find individuals that would be willing but, not the influence to make it a viable option.

It has become abundantly clear that neither the Dems nor the Pubs are capable in making solid effective correction to the system. The balance of the Independents, Libertarians, etc is too few in number to actually break the deadlock. Money continues to corrupt any who find themselves in command of someone else’s. Our legal system does not have any teeth left to make consequences for failed action.

The American people as a whole are no longer educated to the level required to truly see a failing of an elected official in the areas where it really counts. Only the large scale scandals come to light, the dozen other offenses go un-acknowledged and uncorrected. Those offenses are often compounded by other elected officials looking to cover their own behinds and make sure they can get re-elected on the next rotation.

As so much I would love to see this issue come forward and get some true correction, I may not live long enough to benefit from it.

My apologies for the somewhat negative tone this post has but, I have been working with some very good people from both sides of the isle and so far mud-sling is the hot topic of the day.

I like the idea pat4, but with just a list of candidates to chose from, I think ultimately each one would be identified with a set of parameters, idealogically "grouped" and we'd end up with a set of "parties" anyway.

I'm all for trying it. I agree with you, it's time to think outside the box. All the box has done is trap us in it.

Joking , , , I think so , , , Paul & Palin were just the first that came to mind, nothing more.
I would be glad to look at any Dem. that has not jumped right into one of Obama's back pockets.
I really do not like the way the Repub's have tried to highjack the tea party & I think I am not alone.

I think the two party thing is more about dividing the American people than any ideology.

The two right people with the right platform that appeal to most all voting Americans could maybe make a run out of it without a party but it would be a battle.

Being an independent myself, I don't think dismantling the two parties would serve any purpose as the new parties formed would just be the same with different names. But we do need a viable third party to rise up just to keep the Ds and Rs honest. You certainly wouldn't see the obstructionism you see now when ever one or the other party is in power. Nope, what we need is a viable third with about a 20% share of the vote and things would change real quick. Right now, the power structure depends on the two party system to maintain power. It is why it is so difficult for thirds to get on ballots and obtain the necessary exposure to become legit. The Ds and Rs, together, make rules against any third rising it's head. It's one time where you see bipartisanship.

What has to happen is people have to change their mindset, that a third has no chance so therefore I won't vote for them no matter how much I like their ideas. We are holding ourselves back and allowing the power structure to limit our choices. No where in the Constitution does it say we have to have a two party system. It is time for a third party. The country has changed to the point where a third party is needed. When the people decide to stop letting the power elite (and that is both parties) decide their fate, a third will rise. Not until.