NationStates Jolt Archive

There have been several comments by pundits in the media of late regarding a potential split in the Republican party into two groups the moderates/libertarians and the social/religious conservatives. The Democratic party often seems at odds with itself (the latest current campaign being somewhat unusual in this respect because the Democrats are relatively united).

Is it time for a realignment in the party system in the US? How many parties would be suffiucient?

(Wait a couple of minutes on the poll, please...)

I'd like to see a party structure like this:
Libertarian
Christian Conservative
Moderate Republican
Centerist
Democratic
Far Left

Five of the major parties could work like the political compass:

Party A: Economic Conservatives/Social Conservatives
Party B: Economic Conservatives/Social Liberals
Party C: Economic Liberals/Social Conservatives
Party D: Economic Liberals/Social Liberals
Party E: Economic/Social Centrists

Well, there is nothing legally preventing other parties to be formed in the US, but I think that the 2 big ones have passed laws to make it very difficult for any new parties to get a realistic chance at some real power.

It should be easier for parties, even small new ones, to get candidates in Federal elections, especially for the House.

I, for one, would like to see the following major parties:

Extreme left
Moderate left
Centrist
Moderate right
Extreme right
Libertarian
Authoritarian (opposite of libertarian, why anyone would follow such a party is beyond me, but for the sake of balance...)

As many as it takes to split them up into all the different groups. Maybe that way some would shift into a third party. Let's see...

Libertarian
Religious Conservative
Moderate Republican
Classic Democratic Centrist
Greens
Democratic Socialists

But maybe as all the parties so...

Constitution Party
Greens
Democrats (Centrists)
Democratic Socialists
Whatever one is Religious Conservative
Libertarian
Republicans

Hmm, I guess that seems about right. Maybe combine the Greens and Democratic Socialists...

No political parties :p

No parties

1. It divides us
2. Washington condemned it
3. They have weird symbols (a Jackass for Democrats? a fat-ass elephant for Republicans???)

Single seat constituencies makes it very hard for any new parties to make themselves heard and effectively leads to a two party system. If you want more parties for some reason, like better representantion, a proportional system really must be instituted, which seems very unlikely to happen in the US.

I'm ignorant to many of those terms.

What difference between:

Libertarian
Religious Conservative
Moderate Republican
Classic Democratic Centrist
Greens
Democratic Socialists

But maybe as all the parties so...

Constitution Party
Greens
Democrats (Centrists)
Democratic Socialists
Whatever one is Religious Conservative
Libertarian
Republicans
What is John Kerry? What is Clinton labled as? I'm trying to see which i'm more like since these terms would confuse average voter.

I'm ignorant to many of those terms.

What difference between:

What is John Kerry? What is Clinton labled as? I'm trying to see which i'm more like since these terms would confuse average voter.

Well I'd personally say the Centrist part of the Democrats. I dunno about Clinton, might be the same.

Republican Party
Democrat Party
America First Party
American Heritage Party
American Independent Party
American Nazi Party
American Party
American Reform Party
Christian Falangist Party of America
Communist Party USA
Constitutional Action Party
Family Values Party
Freedom Socialist Party
Grassroots Party
Greens/Green Party USA
Independent American Party
Labor Party
Light Party
New Party
New Union Party
Peace and Freedom Party
Prohibition Party
The Revolution
Revolutionary Communist Party
Socialist Action
Socialist Equality Party
Socialist Labor Party
Socialist Party USA
Socialist Workers Party
Southern Party
Southern Independence Party
U.S. Pacifist Party
We the People Party
Workers World Party

Republican Party
Democrat Party
America First Party
American Heritage Party
American Independent Party
American Nazi Party
American Party
American Reform Party
Christian Falangist Party of America
Communist Party USA
Constitutional Action Party
Family Values Party
Freedom Socialist Party
Grassroots Party
Greens/Green Party USA
Independent American Party
Labor Party
Light Party
New Party
New Union Party
Peace and Freedom Party
Prohibition Party
The Revolution
Revolutionary Communist Party
Socialist Action
Socialist Equality Party
Socialist Labor Party
Socialist Party USA
Socialist Workers Party
Southern Party
Southern Independence Party
U.S. Pacifist Party
We the People Party
Workers World Party
Gee, you forgot the "Party-Hardy's"

How about:

Democrats
Condemnocrats

Republicans
Republicants
Republicunts

While we're at it...

Mexicans
Mexicants


Just an old joke from a terrible movie

Just a question from a non-American, are they are members of either chamber of US Congress that are not members of the Republican or Democratic party?

Here in Sweden we have 7 political parties currently represented in the Riksdag (parliament), they represent a pretty wide range of views, from the Vänsterpartiet (left party) as the most left-wing in parliament to the Moderata samlingspartiet - the Moderates party - on the right.

However, there are many more parties than just those in parliament registered. For instance, the nationalist Sverigedemokraterna (Sweden Democrats) has quite substantial support as does the SPI ( a party for pensioners!). We also have a load more, included eg communist, hard-left socialists, and the far right.

Also, in the recent EU parliament election, a new party called the Junilistan won 3 seats in the EU parliament. They are a party critical of the EU.

Personally, I would say the USA political scene seems very very polarised at present. I think it would be good news if you had a more proportional electoral system so that a larger bredth of views could gain representation. Although I guess it's in the interests of both Republicans and Democrats to maintain the status quo in the electoral system of USA.

3. They have weird symbols (a Jackass for Democrats? a fat-ass elephant for Republicans???)
That’s a Dumbass for the Democrats and a really gigundus huge ass for the Republicans.

You forgot one:

The existing two parties should be strengthened, so they actually function like parties.

How about we just cut to the chase and make me High Overlord of the Universe?

As many as it takes to split them up into all the different groups. Maybe that way some would shift into a third party. Let's see...

Libertarian
Religious Conservative
Moderate Republican
Classic Democratic Centrist
Greens
Democratic Socialists

But maybe as all the parties so...

Constitution Party
Greens
Democrats (Centrists)
Democratic Socialists
Whatever one is Religious Conservative
Libertarian
Republicans

Hmm, I guess that seems about right. Maybe combine the Greens and Democratic Socialists...

Hmm, what was I thinking. I should have made this list clearer like so.

Conservatives (made from moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats)
Libertarians
Greens
Democrats (Centrists)
Religious Conservatives
Extreme Righties

Then maybe a few more if necessary like the Socialists, Constitutionists, Communists, Authoritarian, etc.

Hmm, this way we'd have the moderates, left, right, extreme left, and extreme right with only six. Ok so there's no extreme left in those six, but that can be easily remedied if necessary.

Then when these guys split, it would be nice if something stopped them from joining together again to dominate the country. Laws prolly wouldn't work. So maybe raging partisanship would work...

Just a question from a non-American, are they are members of either chamber of US Congress that are not members of the Republican or Democratic party?

Here in Sweden we have 7 political parties currently represented in the Riksdag (parliament), they represent a pretty wide range of views, from the Vänsterpartiet (left party) as the most left-wing in parliament to the Moderata samlingspartiet - the Moderates party - on the right.

However, there are many more parties than just those in parliament registered. For instance, the nationalist Sverigedemokraterna (Sweden Democrats) has quite substantial support as does the SPI ( a party for pensioners!). We also have a load more, included eg communist, hard-left socialists, and the far right.

Also, in the recent EU parliament election, a new party called the Junilistan won 3 seats in the EU parliament. They are a party critical of the EU.

Personally, I would say the USA political scene seems very very polarised at present. I think it would be good news if you had a more proportional electoral system so that a larger bredth of views could gain representation. Although I guess it's in the interests of both Republicans and Democrats to maintain the status quo in the electoral system of USA.

There is currently 1 independent out of a total of 535, both in the house. That cahnges every couple of years, but is always a very small number.
According to this site (http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/House.phtml?v=c&p=Ame), there are
[quote]1181 Candidates seeking a House Seat

* 415 Republicans
* 410 Democrats
* 135 Libertarians
* 89 Independents
* 52 Greens
* 16 Write-Ins
* 13 Constitutions
* 8 Independences
* 7 United States Taxpayerss
* 6 Peace and Freedoms
* 5 Reforms
* 4 American Independents
* 3 Conservatives
* 3 American Constitutions
* 3 Personal Choices
* 2 Nonpartisans
* 2 Liberty Unions
* 1 American HealthCare
* 1 Progressive
* 1 Nebraska
* 1 unenrolled
* 1 Natural Law
* 1 No Party Affiliation
* 1 Veterans
* 1 Independent American[/url]

The two main parties are very, very polarized. The European systems was what I was thinking of.

Here's a good overview and history of US Political Parties (http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/govworks/na24.htm)

According to that, 9% of Americans are really independents.

And for the record, in case anyone didn't know and was wondering, I'm a Liberetarian/moderate Republican - far right economically, and mostly moderate "left" socially.

the dutch have the biggest list of political parties:

not in the parliament party's:

AOV/Unie 55+

Alliantie voor Vernieuwing en Democratie - AVD

Bonapartistische Partij Nederland - BPN

Centrumdemocraten - CD

De conservatieven.nl

De Progressief Democratische Partij - PDP

Democratisch Platform Nederland - DPN

Directe Democraten - DD

Duurzaam Nederland

Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond - GPV

De Groenen

Jongere Onafhankelijke Ouderen Partij - J.O.O.P

Katholiek Politieke Partij - KPP

Leefbaar Nederland - LN

Liberaal Democratische Partij - LDP

Libertarische Partij

Lijst Veldhoen

Natuurwetpartij

Nederland Mobiel

Nederlandse Christen Democraten - NCD

Nieuwe Communistische Partij - NCPN

Nieuwe Midden Partij - NMP

Nieuwe Nationale Partij - NNP

Pacifistisch Socialistische Partij 1992 - PSP'92

Partij voor de Dieren

Partij voor het Noorden

Parij voor de Toekomst

Republikeinse Socialist en - RS

Reformatorische Politieke Federatie - RPF

Republikeinse Moderne Partij

Senioren 2000

Socialistische Arbeiders Partij - SAP

Verenigde Communistische Partij - VCP

Verenigde Senioren Partij - VSP

Vrije Indische Partij - VIP

banned or stopped party's:

Anti-Revolutionaire Partij - ARP
Christelijk-Historische Unie - CHU
Communistische Partij van Nederland - CPN
Democratisch Socialisten '70 - DS'70
Evangelische Volkspartij - EVP
Katholieke Volkspartij - KVP
Pacifistisch-Socialistische Partij - PSP
Politieke Partij Radicaten - PPR

party's in the parliament:

Christen-Democratisch Appèl (CDA, 44 seats)
Partij van de Arbeid (PVDA, 42 seats)
Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD, 28 seats)
Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF, 8 seats)
Socialistische Partij (SP, 8 seats)
GroenLinks (GL, 8 seats)
Democraten 66 (D66, 6 seats)
ChristenUnie (CU, 3 seats)
Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP, 2 seats)
Groep Lazrak (Groep Lazrak, 1 seats)

and you have a phew 100 local and provincial party's