Americans deserve more than two political parties: Richey

The U.S. is notorious for its two-party political system--but does our democracy need to be this way, or is there a better way? — Image credit: Getty Images

The United States of America, unlike most developed democracies around the world, runs on a strict two-party political system, instead of a more open multi-party or parliamentarian system. Recent attempts to change this, culminating in the 2021 For the People Act, have failed to make it through Congress and into law.

Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey breaks down what this two-party system means for Americans and asks an important question: Is this the only way American democracy can function?

Well, truly, we have a multi-party system in name only. It’s just on paper. Because if you attempt to run for major political office outside of the mainstream framework of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party: good luck. Don’t hold your breath on their person winning. These are machines. These are companies. These are corporations. They are massive entities. And they have, I believe, tricked us all. Now, I’m not a right-leaning guy, obviously. But there are things on the Left I completely disagree with.

I do believe there’s more room to negotiate as we continue to provide nuance to the narrative. But then, nuance can never be politically realized, because the person who may match your actual values, the person who may promote, proclaim what you truly believe, well, that person is, as they say, possibly unelectable. They may not fit inside of this framework.

So who does the two-party system make it easiest for? Not you. Not me. Corporations. Yes. Corporations. You see, it’s much easier for corporations to simply purchase both sides of the coin, rather than have a robust political system, where eighty different political parties are competing for your attention, for your vote, by expressing your said values. That makes it much more difficult for corporations to manipulate the process, to have an advantage. But it does make it easier for you to select someone who aligns with your political values.

Here’s my thing. I’m not saying abandon whatever political party most represents your political viewpoint. What I’m saying is this: Don’t think this has to be the only way a democracy can function.

Okay, can I talk about the two-party system in the United States of America? Understand some dynamics that are involved. Why do we have a two-party system, when no one I know, no one you know, think in terms of one party or the other, meaning there’s something about the political party that most represents you, there’s something about that political party that you do not agree with. That is true for everybody on the left and on the right. You see, nuance is your friend, if you are an individual. However, inside of a political system, or political party, nuance is not your friend. And so what do we have? We have this very polarized political system. Why? Because our political options are thus polarized as well.

Does that make it easy for you? No, it makes it more difficult. Because I guarantee you, there are many areas inside of whatever political party you subscribe to, many dynamics involved you disagree with. You agree with many, most possibly, but not all. So why the two-party system? I felt this was a, you know, a democracy.

Well, truly, we have a multi-party system in name only, it’s just on paper. Because if you attempt to run for major political office outside of the mainstream framework of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party, good luck, don’t hold your breath on their person winning. These are machines. These are companies, these are corporations. They are massive entities. And they have, I believe, tricked us all. Now, I’m not a right-leaning guy, obviously. But there are things on the left I completely disagree with.

Corporations. Yes, corporations. You see, it’s much easier for cooperations to simply purchase both sides of the coin, rather than have a robust political system, where different political parties are competing for your attention for your vote, by expressing your stated values. That makes it much more difficult for corporations to manipulate the process to have an advantage. But it does make it easier for you to select someone who aligns with your political values. Here’s my thing. I’m not saying abandon whatever political party most represents your political viewpoint. What I’m saying is this: Don’t think this has to be the only way a democracy can function.