The United States is not, and never was, intended to be a democracy. The system was built upon the principals of polyarchy, which is a political system where the government is made up of "responsible" and wealthy elite. The rest of society is composed of a fragmented middle and lower class that every several years is allowed to participate politically to an extent while the wealthy monitors their opinions. Thanks to more than a few incidents regarding public opinion, the government and the constitution has changed quite a bit, but the basic system of polyarchy remains the same. Notice how we are only allowed to vote for TWO presidents from only TWO parties that represent the same economic and political ideology. Does that mean the two parties are the same? No, but they are still both center-right and that means we will always have the same basic system unless a radical change occurs spontaneously in one of the two parties or if a third party candidate that represents a libertarian, socialist, or even fascist movement is elected.
Notice how we are only allowed to vote for TWO presidents from only TWO parties that represent the same economic and political ideology.
As Lieutenut already pointed out, there are always more than two presidential candidates. It's just that there are only two major parties. It's also worth noting that this is exactly the type of system the founding fathers had feared. They didn't want political parties or even one particular group to have enough support for a particular movement.
The system was built upon the principals of polyarchy
I just don't think this is the case at all. While many of the founders were wealthy (and many of them elitist) it was not their political ideologies that forced this. It's simply that the wealthy - especially 200 years ago - were the only ones capable of reading and becoming politically active.
The United States is not, and never was, intended to be a democracy.
Anyone who argues that the U.S. is a democracy has never been paying attention when they say the pledge of allegiance. "And to the republic for which it stands." We have always been a republic, since people do not get direct representation for reasons already elucidated.
It's also worth noting that this is exactly the type of system the founding fathers had feared. They didn't want political parties or even one particular group to have enough support for a particular movement.
Yeah, it's like George Washington said on political parties,
"It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."
Not quite the quote I was looking for, but it's from the same speech (his farewell address to the nation).
Notice how we are only allowed to vote for TWO presidents from only TWO parties that represent the same economic and political ideology
Not true. We can vote for whomever is running for president, but the Democrats and Republicans are the two biggest parties by far, and therefore have easily the best shot at winning because they're pretty much the only ones we hear about. Plus, the corporate companies know that, and want whomever wins to be on their side when they become president. Therefore, the candidates from those two parties get a lot more funding. But, technically, we are allowed to vote for any presidential candidate. Your logic is wrong there.
The system was built upon the principals of polyarchy, which is a political system where the government is made up of "responsible" and wealthy elite. The rest of society is composed of a fragmented middle and lower class that every several years is allowed to participate politically to an extent while the wealthy monitors their opinions.
I'm pretty sure you're talking about aristocracy. And I'd like to know just where you got this information? Because I've never heard it. Now, I know that I was probably given only the information the government and powerful companies want me to hear, just as the Democratic party and the Republican party are the ones you learn about in school, but where are you getting your information? You need a solid foundation for an argument, I've never heard anything about this.So I have a few questions for you. Where did you learn that the American government started as an aristocracy, and how can you know that source is reliable? However, I will state that we are not, nor have ever been, a democracy. That's just how people see us, the "land of the free". We are, and always have been, a republic. Your title seems rather misinformed there, lol. A republic is a type of government in which the leader(in this case, the president), has the most power, but there are several checks on that power by the people, who also have the power to impact the government, simply not as directly as the leader. And I quote the Constitution.
The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union, a republican form of government
Republican.. Not democratic. Republican. I think that pretty much sums it up.
Not true. We can vote for whomever is running for president, but the Democrats and Republicans are the two biggest parties by far, and therefore have easily the best shot at winning because they're pretty much the only ones we hear about. Plus, the corporate companies know that, and want whomever wins to be on their side when they become president. Therefore, the candidates from those two parties get a lot more funding. But, technically, we are allowed to vote for any presidential candidate. Your logic is wrong there
Reality doesn't follow logic.
Canada had 3 political parties with a legitimate shot at running the country, another one that takes a significant amount of votesbut will never be able to get enough votesto run the country, but they can manage to be the official opposition. And 1 loser party that no one cares about.
In the American government, the other parties don't have a legitimate shot at doing anything, that is why no one votes for them. Even though they may agree with their political ideology. And as VoteSocialist says, the reason you guys aren't happy no matter who you vote for, is because your two main parties are so similair.
The two party system is fatally flawed. And don't try to pretend its anything but a two party system.
Then again the multi party system has its flaws as well. If a party wins but it doesnt have a majority (more than 50% of the seats in Parliament) then the other parties are easily able to band together and vote down its proposals, then they can complain that the running party hasn't done anything. Then they can force an election through a vote of non-confidence.
But then again, in a two party system the winning part can basically do whatever it wants...
Yeah, that's a pretty good point... the only way a party system wouldn't be flawed is if there were no parties... and there was a time in America's history when that happened and it was during the manifest destiny phase.
Although, it was Washington who didn't want a two party system. But the founding fathers were already split between the Federalists and the Republican-Democrats
That's like saying we never landed on the moon, which we did.[/quote] No, he's right. The U.S. never was a democracy(but we did land on the moon). We were never a democracy. Let me prove it. Article IV of the United States of America Constitution.
The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union, a republican form of government,
Republican. Not democratic. I'm sorry man, but you're wrong. The U.S. is a republic. We elect a president and most of the cabinet, and then they make the decisions. Also, there are checks on the power of everyone. A republic.
The United States is not, and never was, intended to be a democracy
I very much disagree with this. The US became the most democratic nation in the world after we won independence. Now, by today's standards, 1790's US was not democratic, but it was a huge step towards the people ruling. I think the founders wanted the people to be able to choose their leaders.
There were obvious limitations. Only white, land-owning, males could vote. And the electoral college was put in place as a safeguard against extremists, or inept politicians. They also made sure that they would stay in power. But put yourself back in the 1780's. The steps that the founders made were very revolutionary and democratic compared to anywhere else in the world.
Nowhere in the US constitution or in the US Declaration of Independence is the word 'democracy' ever mentioned.
Article I Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
