Coalitions In American Politics

For over 200 years people have argued about whether or not political parties are helpful, or even healthy. In 1879 during his farewell address the first president of the united states of American George Washington warned that….” The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it”. Even with all the controversy that surrounds, the American two-party- system hasn’t faulted, from challenges of third parties to changes in our society, it has again and again proven itself as a strong system. One good thing about the two-party- system is that each political party helps voters make sense of our country’s political scene, by working to get voters more involved by using specific platforms that are important to that certain party’s constitutes. So that voters can fully evaluate each candidate and choose the one they feel is best to be an advocate for the platforms that closely relate to their specific beliefs. On the bad side the two-party-system is just that, only allowing voters two parties to choose from, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, each with its own specific platforms, and its views on current issues. This limits choices of the voters by only allowing them to see the world in two colors, red for republican and blue for democrats, thus leaving out all the others on a color spectrum. At times it can be difficult to choose between the different parties,

Collective action problems arise in politics because as individuals we are conflicted between our own interest and the interest of the group. Our choice is either to be selfish or cooperate with the group. “It involves building, combining, mixing, and amalgamating people’s individual goals” (Lowi, et al. 13). There are three main theories as to why collective action problems exist. First, according to Mancur Olson individuals are tempted to free-ride which is getting a benefit without contributing to it and that no individual is incentivized to work for the collective good. (Lowi, et al 571). Free-riding becomes a bigger issues as a group gets larger. Second, the Prisoner’s Dilemma is a theory in which there are two individuals in a situation were neither has an incentive to cooperate although both would be better off if they did cooperate. Third, the tragedy of commons occurs when individuals’ use of a resource causes its depletion however it’s supposed to be shared by everyone. Collective action problems are difficult to solve because a group is formed to achieve common goals however as individuals we have different objectives and preferences. This is most evident in politics. My goal in this paper is to provide three different solutions to collective action problems in politics specifically in political parties, electoral process and interest groups.

Generally speaking, anyone who lives in the United States of America knows that there are two main political parties—the Republicans and the Democrats. Having two main parties has its advantages and, of course, its disadvantages. For example, in By the People James E. Monroe and Rogan Kersh (301) point out having this type of system creates “predictability and stability.” However, they also declare (301) it can “lead to a gridlock.” This is not a new concept either as there has been a divide since the beginning of both parties. The two parties more often than not disagree on various issues, while rarely agreeing on what is best for the country.

The most powerful groups in American politics are the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), the AMA (American Medical Association), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the NRA (National Rifle Association). To begin, the NAACP holds great influence in the political spectrum where there vision is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. Here their purpose and objectives attract the attention of the general public where they hold support and generate major revenue. Now for the AARP, this association represents the views of the older American population where they affect the health care system. Evidently their

Amidst the past eight years of lackluster economic advancement, America’s prowess and respect declining worldwide, increasing government involvement in daily lives, and a President seemingly unwilling to take a solid stance on a the global threat of terrorism, the transfer of power between political parties in the White House is not so stunning. Due to the two-party system, this is not an unprecedented phenomenon. The American people are constantly seeking a political party to garner their attention and adapt to changing times, opinions, demographics, and attitudes (Cohen) and this results in the alternation of power between the two key political parties.

Since the writing of the United States Constitution, the American government has been structured in a way that only truly allows for two parties. Of course there are numerous other smaller parties, however, the key is that these parties are smaller. The most successful way to become elected to a position in the American governmental structure is to have the backing of the Democratic or Republican Party. Over the two-hundred-year history of the United States the parties have changed names and fundamentally altered their core believes. Today, the distinction has become quite clear as the rise of polarization forces a clear, concise difference between the two parties. The Democrats must uphold the liberal ideals while the Republican Party carters to those of a conservative

The two-party system is said to promote governmental stability because a single party can win a majority of political offices and, with less bickering between differing and partisan legislators, govern more efficiently. In a multiparty country, on the other hand, the formation of a government depends on the maintenance of a coalition of parties with enough total strength to form a political majority. The weakness of the ties that bind the coalition may threaten the continuance of a cabinet in power. The stability shown by the government of the United States has not been entirely due to its party system, it has been argued, but has been promoted also by the fixed tenure and strong constitutional position of the president, as well as checks and balances built into the constitution to prevent one branch of federal government from becoming too powerful.

Part One, Alliances, starts off with the importance of one-on-one relationships. The sole purpose of these one-on-one relationships, which in political terminology is known as “retail politics” can provide a personal and political awareness for the other individual’s concerns. This triggers a chance for the one who is performing the retail action the opportunity to network. Lyndon B. Johnson created the “Johnson

Today, there exists the rift in the American political system marked by the ongoing clash between our political parties: the Republicans and the Democrats. These parties’ dissenting ideas seem to create non-stop conflict as each party relentlessly competes for the support and votes of the American people. However, over two hundred years ago in the early days of our country’s government, political parties did not even exist. Early leaders, such as the revered George Washington, feared that political parties would split our country into warring factions that would not only subvert our delicate notion of patriotism, but also weaken public support for the new Constitution. Nonetheless, despite opposition by Washington and others, political parties began to form, and over the years have developed into the familiar political system we have today. The chief factors that led to the rise of political parties were the disagreements between influential politicians over the structure of the government, the proper interpretation of the Constitution, and foreign policy regarding European nations.

In the United States, government has largely devolved into political and legislative stalemate where Republicans and Democrats find themselves apparently unable to agree on anything. The partnership has gotten so bad that even ordinary procedural votes are being stymied and slowed by round after

This is basically when coalitions permanently split up and support the opposing party in future elections.

In the two-party system, a political party is often defined as simply a coalition of interests. In our system, any political party that hopes to win elections must build a coalition of support to receive a majority vote. While the two-party system is far from perfect, it provides us with an interesting look into how wide ranging political parties gain support from individuals that are commonly concerned with only one or a few issues. By looking at the Democratic and Republican national websites, we can gain information on who these parties target, why they target them, and the relative success of these efforts. In this short piece, I will examine both websites and compare and contrast how Democrats

Today’s first and second world countries are blind to a plague that is sweeping the majority of the world: poverty. In “wealthy” societies, it is important for the public to realize that economic conditions are a lot worse in many relatively remote places. This importance cannot be stressed enough, because it allows the public to realize that advocacy for the current system isn’t enough. When presented with daunting numbers of people suffering and dying, it is clear to see that the current system of immigration in these impoverished areas simply isn’t enough. There’s only one solution to this huge issue: an equilibrium shift. This shift includes turning a vicious cycle into a productive one by providing opportunities through economic stimulation. This stimulation will eventually lead to stability that results in opportunities for sustainability. Since there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this issue a reform coalition must be established. This reform coalition will tailor fit solutions to each community, which will be much more effective than the current broad tactics. It is important that everyone on earth has a base quality of life, and it is the duty of the common “wealthy” people to be aware of the atrocious conditions that impoverished people endure.

On September 17, 1787, our founding fathers decided to sign their name to a document that would forever be the foundation of a nation unlike any other. A document that would “establish America 's national government and fundamental laws, and guarantee certain basic rights for its citizens…[as well as] a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches–executive, legislative and judicial–along with a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch would have too much power” (History Staff). In order for this government to be established, political parties were founded to help represent the ideals and differing views of all of the citizens. Throughout America’s history, the Democratic and Republican parties have grown to become the two major parties in American government. These parties are important to the electoral system as each party represents the “embodiment of shared principles, goals, and policy positions among a certain subset of citizens” (Gripp). With the election coming up on November 8th, 2016, the Democratic party has chosen Hillary Clinton as their candidate while the Republican party has selected Donald Trump to represent their views. These two candidates differ greatly on global trends issues such as globalization, immigration, and the influence of Islam and terrorism on the United States.

Whatever the outcome, the emergence of the left and the non-left alliance is a good step in the right direction. If these alliances outlast the elections, it could be the beginning of a two-party state, like in the United States and the United Kingdom, which will contribute to political stability and offer a clear choice for voters.