General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Clinton’s Mentor Carroll Quigley Reveals Fraud of the ‘Two Party System’
In American politics we have several parties included under the blanket words Democratic and Republican. In oversimplified terms, as I have said, were the party of the middle class, and the Democrats were the party of the fringes. Both of these were subdivided, each with a Congressional and a National Party wing.
The Republican Congressional Party (representing localism) was much further to the right than the National Republican Party, and as such was closer to the petty-bourgeois than to the upper-middle class outlook. The Democratic Congressional party was much more clearly of the fringes and minorities (and thus often further to the Left) than the Democrat National Party.
The party machinery in each case was in Congressional party control during the intervals between the quadrennial presidential elections, but, in order to win these elections, each had to call into existence, in presidential election years, its shadowy National Party. This meant that the Republicans had to appear to move to the Left, closer to the Center, usually moving to the Right.
As a result, the National parties and their presidential candidates, with the Eastern Establishment assiduously fostering the process being the scenes, moved closer together and nearly met in the center with almost identical candidates and platforms, although the process was concealed, as much as possible, by the revival of obsolescent or meaningless war cries and slogans (often going back to the Civil War).
As soon as the presidential election was over, the two National parties vanished, and party controls fell back into the hands of the two Congressional parties, leaving the President in a precarious position between the two Congressional parties, neither of which was very close to the brief National coalition that had elected him.
The chief problem of American political life for a long time had been to make the two Congressional parties more national and international.
The argument of two parties should represent opposed ideas and policies, one perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinate and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can throw the rascals out at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy. The policies that are vital and necessary for America are no longer subjects of significant disagreement, but are disputable only in details of procedure, priority, or method.
Carroll Quigely Tragedy and Hope pp. 1247-1248
https://undertheradarmedia.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/bill-clintons-mentor-carroll-quigley-reveals-fraud-of-the-two-party-system/
PeoViejo
(2,178 posts)This is called the 'Third Way' at the moment. The problem is that the Third Way Democrats are just as much the corporate whores as the Republicans.
We want policy change, not the same old bullshit every 2 Years.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)Rather then unity of the people. '
Bookmarked for when I want to bruise my jaw later.
Historic NY
(39,577 posts)There are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power, and the love of money. ...Place before the eyes of such men a post of honor, that shall be at the same time a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The vast number of such places ...renders the British government so tempestuous...[and is the true source] of all those factions which are perpetually dividing the nation [and] distracting its councils... B. Franklin.
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/elections/partysys.html
much more when you open the dates.
pampango
(24,692 posts)The chief problem of American political life for a long time had been to make the two Congressional parties more national and international.
The balance of the local mindset vs the national/international mindset is one that affects all national legislatures. Since politicians are elected locally but expected to legislate in a country and world that is increasingly interdependent.