Political Crossfire Forums

Is a one party system better than a two party system in generating diversity of opinion and healthy debates? At initial glance it doesn't sound like it would, since one less party seems like one less set of opinions. But (!) let's examine what happens when you go from a two party system to a one party system. There are no party line division since every politician belongs to the same party. But that doesn't homogeneity of opinion, because everybody would still have their views on what's best. But now with one party, you don't have to hide some of your opinions to be within party line, because EVERYTHING is within party line. Let's say we get rid of the Democrats and the Republicans and replace them collectively with a party called The Ruling Party. Does the Ruling Party support a ban on abortion? Does the Ruling Party support more gun control? Does the Ruling Party support we have more dialogue with Middle Eastern rulers whose interest oppose ours? In all these cases, some of the Ruling Party will support it and some will oppose it. But they will support or oppose based on their views not based what the party's official stance is. Having a one party system is equivalent to having no parties which is equivalent to having infinite parties.

Then the one party will fracture into two. At least if the divide is great enough.

Problem with a one party system is that for it to occur, divisions of ideas must not be very wide.

Take abortion. Maybe some believe 22 weeks should be the cutoff, others 26 weeks, and that will be the discussion. But if a bunch of people believe in no abortion, then they will splinter off and create a new party.

Unless people think within a small range pretty similarly, I don't think it's sustainable.

We already have a one-party system, dems and repubs like to differentiate themselves when it comes to race/sexuality or religion but in reality they both embrace the big government, progressive mentality thats destroying the country.

The problem with a One Party system is that that party will not embrace all views. You will have only one view. And, anyone not sharing that view will be banned from the party. You would end up with something resembling a communist country, though not socialist necessarily. Those not of the party would be banned from even running from office. Not explicitly, but in practice.

A one-party system has been a staple of most dictatorships.