It is fascinating to me how different electoral systems lead to very different alignments of the populace. America's two-party system, and people's attachment to one party or the other, are almost certainly a result of our First Past the Post electoral system.
What I want to focus on today, however, is not our system of voting, but the actual alignment of the political parties. It seems to me that our two-party system creates an environment where it is almost a certainty that each party will take opposite stands on any controversial issue. This creates some fascinating results. On many issues it seems like the parties betray their fundamental principles simply in order to oppose the other party.
For example, I am really intrigued by the anti-immigration stance of the Republican Party. It seems that a party whose ideals include reduction in government powers, equality of opportunity, and Christianity would be vigorously pro-immigration, and happy to help extend the blessings of America to as many people as possible.
Am I missing something? Why do you think that anti-immigration has become associated with the Republican party?
1 comment:
I think you've posed the right question man. The difficulty lies in the dissatisfaction that some American's hold with their country. The water mark is high for Republicans because they expect a great nation. They expect that there will be absolute disagreements as well. There will be irreconcilable differences with certain groups for perhaps 10 years or 20 years. How will homosexuals reconcile with a nation that cannot condone their behavior for instance? By shrinking borders perhaps America is just saying, "can't we focus on ourselves for a time? . . . let's fix the economy, together and let's fix our schools, together. No matter what the cost now is the right time.
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