saxitoxin wrote:Yes, the U.S. is functionally a one-party state (whether or not the Republicans and Democrats keep separate office space is irrelevant). I just did a random sample of the first 13 laws voted on in the second session of the 110th Senate. (
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/r ... _110_2.htm) If this trend is consistent, then:
-39% of proposed laws end up being enacted with 90%+ of the chamber voting as a block
-70% of proposed laws end up being enacted with 80%+ of the chamber voting as a block
-92% of proposed laws end up being enacted with 70%+ of the chamber voting as a block
Now, Saxi, I'm of the opinion that both parties are beholden to the same Money Powers that really run things. However, the above example is not proof of that. Laws being passed is just the nature of compromise and politics.
Any law that is to be enacted, through the meetings, back room wheeling and dealing, compromises, national needs and such, then most bills will be passed as such.
Any bills that would show a sharp divide between the two parties, and thus showing that they are indeed different, would never get passed anyway. To really see how much the same both parties are, look at the bills that never see the light of day as well.
For example, the new Feinstein gun grabbing bill will never pass and gun control laws are one of those things cited as a difference between the parties.
Just sayin' is all.
But, looking at the exact same Bill that won't pass, the gun grabbing Feinstein bill, you'll get some evidence. That is, not only will the Republicans in mass reject the bill, but also a good portion of the Democrats will reject it.
Thus, showing that the supposed difference between the two parties on gun control is not really all that different after all.
What we got is some crazy rogue politicians who are so ideologically set in their ways that are the true difference. The parties themselves always tow the line but these mavericks have actual differences but they are so far and few between it doesn't change anything.
So effectively the US is certainly a one party system that has the occasional Feinstein's on certain issues and the true mavericks like the Ron Paul's, but for better or worse these people are never able to accomplish their goals because they are trying to swim up a river with heavy weights attached. All they do is sink and the real powers just use them to further divide the population with false paradigms. The real powers being the wizards behind the curtain who are of the same mind.