(02-16-2012, 09:55 PM)Jester Wrote: The US only appears like a 2-party system because of the voting system. If you didn't have First Past the Post, and probably an elected presidency as well, you'd have multiple viable parties. As it stands, two is the equilibrium number. Even if an incumbent is "killed" by a challenger party, the 2-party structure will remain.
-Jester
Yeah, I'd love something other than 'Winner take all'. Maybe do Senate seats on the present model (only 2 per state anyway) and the House on a proportional model, on a per state basis. That would make the 'other' parties more than curiousities and spoilers.
(03-30-2012, 07:41 PM)Tal Wrote: So if I say "I don't like Catholics" - is that hate speech?
Oh hell no. Now, if I go start killing them, or discriminating in employment because they're Catholics, for two examples, that's a different matter entirely. (Not hate speech, but there are laws to cover it.)
I really don't like Rush Limbaugh or Bill Maher, but, I'm not going to lead a charge to deprive them of their free speech rights. Being a buffoon is not a crime.
--Mav