2024-03-17 07:45:23
US elections: Is it time to reform the two-party system?
This week, both the Democratic candidate, US President Joe Biden, and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, were able to secure enough numbers to snatch the official nomination from their parties, following they won the Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington primaries.
But this victory reflects a controversial American political reality: the reality of the undisputed two-party system. Although this system reflects the state of affairs in the United States for more than 150 years, today it has become a subject of question, especially in light of the only two options before the American voter: Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the first of whom is eighty-one years old and the second is seventy-seven years old.
Program reviews Washington reportIt is the result of cooperation between Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper and Al-Sharq TV. It explores the reasons for the American voter’s dissatisfaction with the two-party system, the options presented to voters, in addition to the chances of third-party candidates, or independents, winning.
Democratic presidential candidate Jason Palmer (AP)
Jason Palmer… “The Shadow Candidate”
This week, “Washington Report” hosts Jason Palmer, the Democratic presidential candidate and winner of the Samoa regional rally once morest Biden, the first and only loss suffered by the US president’s campaign. Palmer jokes that he, too, was surprised by his victory: “I thought I would win a delegate or two, but I didn’t think I would win the elections there!” Palmer explains why he is running for the Democratic Party instead of a third party or independent, saying: “I am running once morest Biden because at this moment, in order to run for president and win, you must be in one of the two major parties. “I have been a member of the Democratic Party most of my life, and I believe that the Democratic Party has the best policies, and I agree with Biden on regarding 90 percent of things, but at the same time, I think it is time to pass the torch to the next generation.”
At a time when the race is effectively confined to Trump and Biden despite the presence of other candidates, Chris Lemmen, director of the Washington bureau of The Nation magazine, blames the “duopoly of the two parties.” He says they “control messaging, candidate mobilization, and access to ballots in all states where primaries are held.” Laymeen adds that this monopoly is represented by the pressure exerted by officials in each party to maintain the status quo and marginalize candidates from the third party or the opposition, pointing out “the presence of a kind of institutional obstruction in each of the two main parties.”
Faced with this reality, opinion polls indicate that only a quarter of Americans are satisfied with the two-party system. But despite these numbers, third-party or independent candidates are often accused of “sabotaging” the primary candidates’ chances of winning, which the head of the Libertarian Party, Angela McArdle, describes as “ridiculous.” She says: “No one owes a vote to either of the two main parties. Everyone can vote as they choose. I can easily turn the equation around and say: It is the two-party system that harms us, our great opportunity, and the rights of our candidate to become president of the United States.”
Biden and Trump win delegate votes to snatch the nomination for their parties (AP)
Palmer agrees that third parties should have a greater voice in American elections, calling for open primaries and preference-based voting. He pledges to work to bring regarding a change of this kind, explaining: “It is true that the monopoly of the two parties sometimes translates into us not having the best options in our elections, and I believe that it is better for us to move to a better version of democracy during the next decade, and this is something I am committed to.”
Palmer talks regarding the role he plays in the presidential elections, as he has not yet withdrawn his candidacy, although he admits that it is impossible for him to win the party’s nomination, and he believes that his presence in the race motivates Biden to participate more in the election campaigns. He gave an example of this in the state of Arizona, which holds its primary elections on the 19th of this month, saying: “(Biden) will visit Arizona… and I think that is partly because participants in the polls said that Jason Palmer is doing a better job in Arizona.” “And you should go there.” He added, “One of the main reasons for my candidacy is to push Biden to participate in the election campaign.” If Biden does not campaign strongly, Donald Trump will win without a hitch in November, and I am not satisfied with that. “I will remain in the campaign trying to push him to give us the best version of him.”
A demonstrator stands in front of the White House to protest the Gaza War (EPA)
Gaza war
Lameen believes that the challenges facing Biden are not limited to his participation in the election campaigns, but rather extend to “sharp divisions within the ranks of the Democratic Party over the war in Gaza.” He explains that “Biden’s bias costs him essential support among multiple groups, especially young voters, as we saw in Michigan, which includes a large group of Americans of Arab origin, and which (during) the primaries included a number of non-committals. In my opinion, if there is a reason for Biden to head to Arizona, it is that there is great concern that Michigan, which is a major swing state, will not be a Democratic state in the general elections. These are all warning signs.” Limeen warns that voter anger over the war in Gaza will push third-party candidates to advance and snatch votes from Biden.
Palmer comments on the issue of Gaza, highlighting his position calling for the necessity of changing American policies and a ceasefire. Palmer hopes that his presence in the race will lead to a change in the US administration’s policies in this context, similar to what happened in the last elections, as Senator Bernie Sanders remained in the race even when it was clear that Joe Biden would be the official candidate. He said: “Sanders stayed because he took positions he believed in, and considered them very important to change the base of the Democratic Party. “I have similar situations, too.”
The No Labels group announced its intention to launch a presidential election card (AP)
“No Labels” is a missed opportunity
The “No Labels” group, which defines itself as a centrist group, seeks to provide other options to the American voter through an electoral ticket in a number of states to compete with Biden and Trump, but it has not revealed the names of any candidates yet. Palmer talks regarding the reasons why prominent figures refuse to include their names on the “unity card” that No Labels is pushing. He says: “Although the majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the two current options, they believe that the presence of a third option will affect Biden’s votes and lead to Trump’s accession to the presidency.” “This will constitute a real danger to democratic America.”
McArdle talks regarding the existence of other options for the American voter other than the main candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and away from the “No Labels” group, and directs harsh criticism at the two parties. “I personally do not understand the focus on democracy from the Democratic Party when they try to expel their opposition from the ballot and put them in prison,” she says. Of course, we have reservations regarding the Trump administration. It seems that people who are both anti-third party and anti-Donald Trump want to maintain the status quo. Because if we had a democratic system, they would make room for more opinions. What we really need is access to ballot lists so that different viewpoints can be represented, and so that the status quo in this country can change from what it has been for many decades.”
Third party candidates face challenges in being included on ballot lists (AP)
“Unfair” system
McArdle presents an important point here, related to the inability of some candidates to have their names included on the ballot lists, due to several laws that differ in each state, stressing that “the two-party system works once morest other parties.” She gives examples of this in the states of New York and Illinois, saying: “There is no doubt.” Getting on the ballot in New York State is the most prominent challenge we face. It requires 45,000 signatures within 6 weeks. So this is a big challenge, especially since it costs $350,000. There is also the state of Illinois, which is also difficult. I think we need to 35 thousand signatures there.”
Limeen points out that this two-party system “was not designed to be fair. The two main parties have special interests in reducing the attractiveness of insurgent or third-party candidates, which is why they control access to ballot lists at the state level, and this is the main obstacle that third-party candidates face, that is, being “Include them on the ballot lists in order to offer a different choice to voters.” “It’s a vicious cycle because both parties don’t allow them to join the race, so there’s no effective way to appeal to voters who are frustrated with the messaging of both parties,” Lehman adds.
However, Palmer warns of the repercussions of having a third-party candidate in a race he describes as fateful this year, stressing the importance of Biden being elected “so that Trump does not return to the White House.” However, at the same time, he stresses the need to give a voice to third parties “that have been neglected for a while.” “For a long time” following these fateful elections, as he put it.
Joe Biden at an election event in Wisconsin, March 13, 2024 (AFP)
Biden and the “guardianship issue”
However, McArdle strongly opposed this approach, pointing to her party’s efforts to “file a conservatorship case once morest Joe Biden,” and explaining, “He is clearly showing signs of dementia and is doing a terrible job of managing the country’s finances.” And to be fair, we threatened Mitch McConnell (the Republican leader in the Senate) with the same thing.” McArdle adds: “I think that the people are tired of the dominance of old age. Joe Biden shows signs of loss. He extends his hand to shake the hand of the unknown. He stumbles with his words in a very embarrassing way, and I think that the people are tired of these things. Of course, Donald Trump has blemishes and is old as well.” “I would like to see a younger president elected in the United States.”
In the face of these statements, Palmer announced his intention to establish a new organization next week called “Together,” which “supports candidates from various parties who believe in logical solutions, and do not want the lunatics on either party to control our politics.” As he put it, adding that the Biden administration must work more to motivate young people, he said: “The next stage is the implementation stage. “Biden’s campaign must include a team of young people, and he must encourage people like me to talk to young people to stimulate their enthusiasm.”
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