Split votes in primaries, split votes in generals, neither is good. If the parties wanted to really solve this problem, they'd use something other than basic FPTP voting. I'm fond of IRV, but even simple approval voting would be better than this recurring mess.
However, using anything else in the primaries might cause the electorate to realize they should use something else in the general, and risk putting an end to the two-party system. We'll probably only see one of our current two major parties do something like that if they believe themselves to be permanently declining in relevance and being replaced, like the Federalists or Whigs.
> Trump’s candidacy was a seismic event for the American left; it left a deep imprint on our brains.
I don't think the GOP--neither the base nor the party apparatus--*wants* it to not be Trump. They know they get historic turnout with Trump on the ballot, they know many of their voters can't be bothered to get to the polls for SuburbanDad McWhitey. The effective GOP strategy isn't going to be stopping Trump, it's going full steam ahead again.
The first-past-the-post structure makes a major-party vote much much safer. Everyone knows third parties split votes and only the winner gets to win.
Maybe there'll be more if ranked choice keeps catching on, but ranked choice has its problems--it's confusing to voters and explicitly advantages the second choices of voters of losing candidates over the voters of more immediately popular ones.
I suppose what you say is true however, where I live and in other countries FPTP and multiple political parties coexist. My question was more about why, over a long history of representative democracy, has the two party system prevailed. Is it simply momentum, are ther other reasons?
Biden vs Trump is like choosing between being strangled or shot to death. Please, no!
Jeff’s analysis is spot on. I think there’s a bigger never trump presence in the Republican Party than it appears, but it might just be me being optimistic.
I think it might just be you being optimistic. The word “Never” is the key; more Republicans are Never-Biden than Never-Trump, and they’ll hold their nose and vote for the narcissistic, imbecilic crybaby criminal if they have to because he’s purportedly a Republican and on their team.
Probably some decent insight there. I suppose that when considering Joe Biden, some will hold their nose and vote for Trump. Biden is not even very popular amongst Democrats.
His best chance of winning is to run against the psycho orange man.
Split votes in primaries, split votes in generals, neither is good. If the parties wanted to really solve this problem, they'd use something other than basic FPTP voting. I'm fond of IRV, but even simple approval voting would be better than this recurring mess.
However, using anything else in the primaries might cause the electorate to realize they should use something else in the general, and risk putting an end to the two-party system. We'll probably only see one of our current two major parties do something like that if they believe themselves to be permanently declining in relevance and being replaced, like the Federalists or Whigs.
> Trump’s candidacy was a seismic event for the American left; it left a deep imprint on our brains.
Aye, like that iron rod did to Phineas Gage.
I don't think the GOP--neither the base nor the party apparatus--*wants* it to not be Trump. They know they get historic turnout with Trump on the ballot, they know many of their voters can't be bothered to get to the polls for SuburbanDad McWhitey. The effective GOP strategy isn't going to be stopping Trump, it's going full steam ahead again.
Honest question, why are there only two political parties in the U.S.?
The first-past-the-post structure makes a major-party vote much much safer. Everyone knows third parties split votes and only the winner gets to win.
Maybe there'll be more if ranked choice keeps catching on, but ranked choice has its problems--it's confusing to voters and explicitly advantages the second choices of voters of losing candidates over the voters of more immediately popular ones.
I suppose what you say is true however, where I live and in other countries FPTP and multiple political parties coexist. My question was more about why, over a long history of representative democracy, has the two party system prevailed. Is it simply momentum, are ther other reasons?
Biden vs Trump is like choosing between being strangled or shot to death. Please, no!
Jeff’s analysis is spot on. I think there’s a bigger never trump presence in the Republican Party than it appears, but it might just be me being optimistic.
I think it might just be you being optimistic. The word “Never” is the key; more Republicans are Never-Biden than Never-Trump, and they’ll hold their nose and vote for the narcissistic, imbecilic crybaby criminal if they have to because he’s purportedly a Republican and on their team.
Probably some decent insight there. I suppose that when considering Joe Biden, some will hold their nose and vote for Trump. Biden is not even very popular amongst Democrats.
His best chance of winning is to run against the psycho orange man.