Self-Imposed Roadblocks
Let the Two-Party System work.
For a two-party political system to fulfill its mission in a democracy, both Parties must overcome roadblocks that limit their ability to respond to rationally to each other, and to new issues, i.e. to develop and offer reasonable alternatives on current social and economic issues.
Such roadblocks generally occur when one or both Parties continue to fight old battles over largely settled issues.
The consequences of this are greater than simple stalemate on current issues. A Party that is “blocked” on a path forward is likely to rupture and spew the kind of excesses we currently see in the Republican “denier-conspiracy” faction.
We might disagree on which issues represent old and settled consensus, as well as which currently represent a serious need for two-party representation.
My view is that experts, both Conservative and Liberal, agree that many past economic debates have been settled as new data has become available. That is, that the ideas that fueled one-side of the debate are no longer seen as relevant to the problem and the issue is settled, at least for the time being.,
The Nobel economist Krugman calls these “Zombie” ideas. Dead, but won’t lie down or go away. All government debt is bad. Social Security and Medicare and going “broke.” Worker Unions are impede prosperity. Some other country is our enemy. And perhaps, our belief that the USA is the “indispensable nation,” and hence required by “history” to impose our limited version of democratization on fragile societies around the world. I could easily offer still others, but I realize that some are still worthy of debate, although, in my judgement, on their last legs.
New issues, that require serious attention, likely include regulation of finance markets, legal frameworks for capital accumulation and competitive markets, climate management, global trade regimes, settlement of border disputes, science and technology policies, and funding at the local level for public health and housing deficits. As well, I believe we need a new determination of the nature of “public goods.”
To summarize. In a healthy two-party system, viable alternatives are offered by both parties to address pressing social problems. In a blocked system, one party (or both) is largely AWOL from the hard task of governing. And even when one Party is able and prepared to grapple with current issues, it will be measurably impaired without the informed counter arguments and policy proposals of the other.
The "rule of law" or "the rule of man." I wonder why the rule of law is not addressing that subject.
In a sporting contest, rules govern the game, ..... a personal opinion can never override the established rules. Having a few people making fools of themselves, will never change the end results.
The same holds true with the United States Constitution, personal opinion is nothing more than that, OPINION. Everyone has the same rights, if laws gave been broken, the rules of the law are clear.
Shut up or put up. False information, can and does cause harm. Time to hold each to his or her word. We are all tired of dishonest politicians. Enough said!