We're schizophrenic about our two-party political system.

 

Sometimes, we Americans declaim the term in tones of reverence: The Two Party System (all rise) is practically synonymous with democracy itself.

 

Other times (some of us) utter the term like a curse word. Why must we always choose between two near-indistinguishable options? Why can't the Third-Party-of-the-Moment get a bug's chance at a square dance?

Well, the truth is, we don't have to have two parties. The constitution sets no limit. The constitution, in fact, says nothing at all about political parties, even though some of the founding fathers were notorious party animals.

We can have as many parties as we want--and we do. Shall we name names? Greens. Libertarians. Reform Party. Peace and Freedom. (big breath) American Party. Socialist Workers Party--well, the list goes on. They're all out there, they just don't win elections.

No one mandates it, yet virtually every significant political office in this country is held by either a Democrat or a Republican.

Is it because these two parties are just so incredibly wonderful that no one else could compare?

Or is this a plot by the rich and powerful to limit us to Tweedledum and Tweedlee, both of whom They control?

French sociologist Maurice Duverger says: "Neither."