Wow The_Jazz, taking things a bit literally? James Madison, in an essay written to some New Yorkers who opposed the new Constitution because of their fear of a faction gaining control of the Government, tried to diffuse their argument explaining that there would be too many political factions for any one to gain control. They may gain local control, but never on a national level. It's kind of like that Simpsons episode, the one where Mr. Burns has every disease. All the diseases keep themselves in check and Mr. Burns only get sick when one of the diseases is cured. Here's a link to one of his essays.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed10.htm
[QUOTE=Being offended by journalism's shorthand notation for the political leanings of the country seems like a waste of time to me, but if that's what you want to do, have at it. Otherwise, join a third party and go on a recruitment spree.[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure how the Democrats having control of the Senate and the media saying the Democrats have control the Senate is shorthand. I don't think that Democrats and Republicans cover the spectrum of America's political leanings just as black and white don't cover the entire color spectrum. So I really don't understand where you were going with this. I guess you are trying to say that Dems and Repubs cover the political views of most Americans.
[QUOTE=I'm not sure if you're advocating a true democracy or outright anarchy, but you seem to have missed the basic idea that lawmakers answer directly to their constituents. Most would be offended at the idea that they didn't vote in their district's best interests.[/QUOTE]
Am I the one who missed the basic idea or are the lawmakers the ones who missed the basic idea that they work for their constiuents? I guess Americans want jobs shipped overseas where corporations reap the benefits of what is essentially slave labor. I guess Americans want no national healthcare. You could argue that it is too costly, but think of how much money is raised for election campaigns and how much is being pissed away in Iraq per week. Considering how literally you took my first post, I have to preemptively say I don't think the money we spend protecting American soldiers with things such as body armor and heavier armor for humvees is pissing it away. All of sudden, we have billions to spend and I don't understand why it couldn't have been used before. If the lawmakers worked for their constituents would we have the current raping of the middleclass?
I feel that the two party system is detrimental to our country. I am not proposing anarchy but proposing that the media gives more attention to all of the political options. Why wasn't Nader allowed to debate? Because he isn't qualified or educated? Because he didn't fit into the neat shorthand notion of America's political leanings? How can a third party ever get more exposure if they are barred from being on the same stage as the two major parties? Maybe because America would truly get to see someone who will work for them. Whether we're Republican, Democrat, Independent, facist, socialist, etc we're still all Americans, and even further than that human beings.