On the Radar

In the wake of the debt ceiling debacle, the S&P downgrade and continuing volatility in the markets, there seems to have been a sharp uptick in criticism of the two-party state and duopoly system of government.  Here's a small sampling from the Politea News Share in recent days:

• The Globalist: "For the longest time, it was all those other nations, particularly those of the "old world," that were in desperate need of modernization, whereas the ways and means of the United States were ingeniously modern. That long-held presumption is what's changing today. Case in point: the two-party system." 

• The Kansas City Star and the Philadelphia Inquirer: "The Democratic-Republican duopoly now appears bent on alienating as many voters as possible . . .  We've long been comforted by Winston Churchill's assertion that "democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried." But these days, much to our detriment, the duopoly seems to be woefully short of democratic values."

• Op Ed News: "As our elected Republican and Democratic elected officials in Congress become more and more dysfunctional, coupled with a President who appears either bought and paid for or incapable of making any sound decisions, many people among the citizenry are thinking about enlisting a Third Party candidate in hopes of putting the brakes on the downward spiral of our nation."

•Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan: "Perhaps during the 2012 election cycle, America should commemorate the 100th anniversary of the strongest third-party presidential bid in history by rooting for a viable alternative to the two-party monopoly to make a run at the White House.  Impossible, you say? Well, you’re probably right. But if ever an electorate was primed for a third option on their presidential ballots, next year might be it."

• A letter to the Las Vegas Sun: "The only things bigger than our national debt are the egos of the politicians and pundits — and the stock market only reflects the actions of people trying to make a buck without actually working to earn it. Hence the ups and downs. I think our two political parties should be abolished. Everyone running for office should be an independent so he or she can vote for the good of the country, not their parties. If Ron Paul would change to an independent instead of a Republican, I would vote for him in a heartbeat."