The United States has a two party system that shuts out and systematically beats down all contenders for political power. This is not a good thing. I’m torn when I read stories about how voters have acted to preserve this tarnished, corrupt system.
On Nov. 4, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) narrowly outpolled challenger Jim Martin (D), 49% to 46%, triggering a runoff election held yesterday. This time around, Chambliss crushed Martin by a margin of 57% to 43%. Why the difference? The New York Times reports:
Many voters interviewed Tuesday said the balance of power in the Senate had been an important factor in their choice of a candidate. “If you can’t have a little back-and-forth arguing between the parties, then the party in power will make mistakes,” said Ron Zukowski, a computer expert in Atlanta who voted for Mr. Chambliss. “This was my chance to say no, and I said no.”
Clearly the American people want change built on common ground between liberals and conservatives, not a one-sided remaking of the United States. In the spirit of identifying that common ground, The Heritage Foundation begins a series of policy memos this week called Change We Believe In: Memos to President-elect Obama. The goal is to reach out to Obama on subjects where his words line up with our vision of how to solve critical issues facing America.
I don’t really claim to know what the American people want, other than an endless supply of affordable gas and large screen televisions, not to mention an overabundance of feeding troughs where they can gorge on a regular basis.
This two party system, however, is doomed. While I like the relative stability that comes with a government closely balanced between two parties who spend their time squabbling over statist issues that always end with the same result – growth of government and additional legislation that doesn’t actually fix anything but drives up the cost of being American – I am ready for real change. Not the kind of change Obama offers. I’m talking about a basic reshaping of the political landscape.
The two party system must die. For the United States to be politically healthy there must be more than two choices available when we ask important questions. Saxby Chambliss may keep an “assault weapons ban” from passing. He may ensure that other Democratic agenda items fail to pass. Whatever. Doesn’t matter.
Obama made many promises during his campaign. He has already started backpedaling. Now that control of Congress is less decisive for the Democrats, Obama has an excuse for many of the promises he’ll fail to keep. Same old game we’ve been playing as long as I’ve been alive.
Meanwhile, thieves on both sides of the aisle continue making up money out of thin air and giving it away to stave off the inevitable downward spiral we have created for ourselves. Something has to break. Some catalyst has to shake up the system enough that it is reborn in a better form. This will happen, and I think it will be in the next 10 years. We’ll see.