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There is no better word to describe the state of our democracy than dysfunctional. Increasingly toxic division between the two sides has not only created a political climate filled with hate, but it has also stymied meaningful progress toward a more prosperous future for all. Like two babies fighting over a crayon, the two-party system has devolved into primitive warfare with American citizens trapped in the crossfire. It doesn’t have to be this way.
In light of the election, Ben and Aaron wanted to take a step back, set political ideology aside, and examine the workings of the system responsible for the ever-widening schism in American politics. Why does the two-party system exist? What has led to the heightened division between the two sides? Why is there no more civil discourse? How do American elections compare to those of other countries? And finally, what can be done to tweak the system in order to restore the thriving democracy upon which this country was founded? Regardless of political leaning, this is a pertinent episode no matter the outcome of the election.
Sources
The Atlantic: America Is Now the Divided Republic the Framers Feared
The Atlantic: America is Living James Madison’s Nightmare
PBS - Independent Lens: Two-Party System
PBS - Independent Lens: Politician
CNBC: The 10.8 billion dollar election: 2020 campaign spending is smashing records
Washington Post: Gerrymandering, explained
Washington Post: The U.S. could be free from Gerrymandering. Here’s how other countries do redistricting
Johns Hopkins University: Politics and Populism with Yascha Mounk
Foa and Mounk: The Danger of Deconsolidation: The Democratic Disconnect
The Atlantic: Populism is Morphing in Insidious Ways
Youth Reporter: 16 years of Merkel: Is that still a democracy?
London School of Economics: Adopting proportional representation would unskew U.S. elections
NPR: Why Are U.S. Elections So Much Longer Than Other Countries?
The Atlantic: American Elections: How Long is Too Long?
Politico: Ten Ways to Strengthen American Democracy