PHILOSOPHY WITH ADAM WANG

BY ADAM WANG

In this article, I want to ascertain whether or not a multiparty system can offer a more diverse, moderate, collaborative, and adaptable mechanism for the United States. Arguably, we are in a turning era of time that has two parties holding distinct understandings of American identity, in most of American history there is a hidden four-party system where overlapping and capricious exist. The growing polarization is almost a consensus.

WHY DO WE NEED A MULTIPARTY SYSTEM?

Given that the current zero-sum bipartisan system- the winner-take-all electoral system, two disciplined, organized national political groups- deepens the stakes in partisan conflict, which obstructs the compromise in politics and cooperation in the nation. Both parties utilitarianly not to waste resources and time in the districts, where they are less likely to win. As a result, the originally blue district is increasingly blue, and the red district is increasingly red, whereas the purple swing district is declining quickly.

In the history of humanity, the idea of peace created by the three is not uncommon. Voltaire observes that: “If there were only one religion in England, there would be danger of tyranny; if there were two, they would cut each other’s throats; but there are thirty, and they live happily together in peace.” Today, partisan diversity is even a consensus that modern developing democracies rarely adopt the bi-party system represented by the United States. Looking at South Korea’s Constitutional Assembly of 1948 held by the U.S. The Military Government established a multiparty system for Korea, rather than a bipartite one.

Though it is undeniable that conflicts and disagreements are the norm in democratic politics, the role of politics is to reconcile these differences and get them marching toward the common good. But the growing disagreement comes up with “American identity.” Political parties mobilize voters by tapping into resentment and exploiting, parties have a logical private interest to mobilize their supporters in such a way, as pulling away from such a vicious race means a possible defeat. In a way, multiparty reform is like a struggle against monopoly in the political party and the rigid belief in “American identity.”

HOW DO WE BUILD A MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY IN THE UNITED STATES?

In order to build a multiparty democracy in the U.S., implanting the PR or RCV system in the U.S. to outlaw the winner-take-all elections would be ideal.

The Multi-Winner Ranked-Choice Voting system requires the voters to rank the candidates in order of preference. When candidates are eliminated from the bottom of the list, the votes of those eliminated are automatically transferred to the next choice of their supporters. In this way, each ballot plays a role. In this perspective, we shall determine the top x number of candidates who should enter the lower house according to the populations of each state. Meanwhile, the larger the population of the district is, the threshold for winning shall be increased proportionally to avoid too many parties. A ballot as follows imitating the Australian multi-winner RCV: Such an electoral system while retaining the simplicity and conciseness of the current bipartisanship elections, it also gives parties the right to choose their preferred ranking order and candidate, which is more acceptable for both parties that currently have a direct interest in the current election system.

Conclusion

Given that we are now in an era where the two-party system is becoming increasingly zero-sum, we need to change the current winner-take-all electoral system and steer the United States toward multi-party democracy. Because of the diversity and partisan accommodation that a multiparty democracy brings, our democracy can usher in more civic engagement, less confrontation, and focus more on the minorities’ representation. I have proposed an exemplary U.S. Electoral Reform Packet that brings change on the Constitutional level. •

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