[Constantine XIII]

This is why the 2-party system beats the fool out of parliamentary systems. In Germany, for example, if the looney-nut-tinfoil party gets 5% of the vote, they get 5% of the legislators. Here, you have to win a majority in a district to get anything. This means that the looneys get to speak, but they get nowhere near the levers of power. Sure, "real" conservatives like Harry Browne and Pat Buchannan will never be elected, but neither will fruitcakes like Ralph Nader or Howard Dean. It forces both sides to the middle. That's how we end up with Bubbas and W's instead of Mondales and Ron Pauls.

It sure isn't perfect, but it's incredibly stable. So stable, in fact, that we have had the longest run of peaceful transisitions of power in the world, with the exception of (maybe) Iceland.

[Tamzee]

It sure isn't perfect, but it's incredibly stable.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your post. I've recognized that the 2-party system prevents extremists from gaining power but never thought of it from the point of stability.

I gained something very valuable from your comments and thank you for kindly sharing your insight :-)

[Kevin Curry]

This means that the looneys get to speak, but they get nowhere near the levers of power.

Reagan was considered a looney, a far right wing reactionary. He almost knocked off middle-of-the-roader Ford in 1976 and beat "moderate" Carter in 1980.

And the nation is much better off for it.

[Hoverbug]

It forces both sides to the middle. That's how we end up with Bubbas

This means that the looneys get to speak, but they get nowhere near the levers of power.

Lemme get this straight. You think bubba was "middle" and that the "looneys" have never been near the levers of power, even when Billy and Hiltlery were in the whitehouse????

BWWWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hb