One thing a lot of people do not realize about Political Science is that it really is a science. Political Science researchers will make a hypotheses and test it using data from past and present political systems. Out of this scientific process theories have emerged. Take for example, Duverger’s Law:
Duverger’s Law is a principle which asserts that a first-past-the-post election system or in other words, a Single-member, Simple-plurality system, naturally leads to a two-party system.
…
The most widely-used system to have this effect, the simple plurality system (first past the post) often appears to pull systems into encouraging the survival of only two major parties: a third force can break in on the scene but only at the ultimate expense of a former major party. The overall system re-stabilizes into two-party mode after a three-party interlude.
What that means is if you have a winner-takes-all electoral system (like the US), you’ll almost certainly end up with a two party system (like the Democratic and Republican parties in the US). This is a shame because I’d rather we have a good four or five parties in the US. Wouldn’t it be nice to no longer feel like we have to vote for the lesser of two evils?
Sadly, without there being fundamental changes to our electoral system, we are likely to stay a two party country. Allowing for proportional representation — an alternative to winner-takes-all — at the federal level would require a significant Constitutional amendment. I doubt there are many elected officials who would support seriously altering the system that got them into a position of power.
So we’re stuck with this two party system, probably for the rest of our lives. But there is a practical way you can get around this lack of choice: vote in the primaries! If you do, you essentially get two votes! This is what I plan to do from now on.