The US is becoming ever more divided politically .....
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| USA Politically Divided |
.... with the current two major parties both prone to being hijacked by and led by extremists of the left and the right, and assassinations and assassination attempts, now seemingly a real factor in political life.
With those same extremist forces pulling the Democrats ever more to the left, and dare I say it, towards socialism, while the Republicans have been driven by MAGA closer to the far right, and dare I whisper it, dabbling with authoritarianism. Its hard to see the current trajectories of the Republicans and Democrats changing soon, thus widening the gap between the two blocs evermore.
However when this happens, there is a danger that the political centre, those centrist voters who prefer consensus politics, and who can see some attraction in both social justice and fairness, but who also don't agree with large state redistribution of funds and handouts, and expect people to earn their rewards, being left behind.
The assumption that these centrists will stay loyal to either party, as they become evermore extreme in their policies, is just wrong. Many right leaning Democrats are as appalled by the "progressives" policies in the party, such as the gender identity policies some Democrats want or have enacted, as most Republicans are, but equally many left leaning Republicans are put off by the current Republican administrations race to the right, on things such as the environment, or expanding the executive powers of the presidency at the expense of Congress, thus destabilising the constitutional separation of powers.
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| CENTRE GROUND IN POLITICS VACATED IN USA? |
In fact there is some evidence for example, that President Trump and his policies are actually losing, or lost support, from some of the non MAGA Republicans. For instance Trump could face immediate impeachment, if the Democrats win the House of Representatives in Congress in Novembers mid-terms (It'd fail in the Senate of course, unless in the unlikely event that the Democrats overturned the Republican Senate majority). This wouldn't be a surprise from Democrat voters who would unanimously impeach him. However what should concern Trump and the Republicans, is that a new survey with a large sample, from Strength in Numbers/Verasight, which found that 21% of Republicans would support an impeachment, with 72% opposed. Among independents, 50% back impeaching the president.
So is there now in fact, now an opening developing for a new centrist political party in the USA? A party that takes something from the left of the Republican party and the right of the Democrats, to strike a common sense balance of policies, that perhaps reflects the consensus and compromise politics of the 1980's and earlier, before the rise of the extremist movements inside each party such as the Christian Coalition of America or the Tea Party which both presaged MAGA inside the Republican Party, or the Socialist Progressives inside the Democrat Party.
Whether there is an appetite for such a political party in the USA, I can't say for sure, but I suspect that there must be some who would be relieved at the return to sanity in politics, that the arrival of such a party would represent. When you consider the probable options in November 2028 which currently looks to be California Gov. Gavin Newsom or former Vice President Kamala Harris, versus Vice President J D Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio, you can only see both parties continuing to follow their ever extremist trajectories (although Rubio might surprise if in office).
It'll be interesting to see if such a new party ever emerges, as the split in the main stream politics continues to widen over the next few years, or even if the US gets torn apart by the gulf between the two blocs.


Like our health system that everyone recognises us broken, we Americans are wedded to our two party system. This rigid system with no space for other parties forces more extreme elements to subvert the two main parties rather than form separate parties.
ReplyDeleteA look across at Europe shows new parties forming and getting some electoral successes. In your England the new Reform party has been leading the polls for months.
This can't happen in the US. Money and the TV coverage that money buys, are too expensive for a new party, so the two main parties have been dragged too the Left and Right instead.
LaTawna, I agree that the US system allows no room for another national political party. As you say the need for vast amounts of money and publicity precludes such a party getting off the ground.
DeleteSo although many voters consider US democracy to be under duress, they don't know how to fix it.
The reasons that they consider there to be a threat to US democracy are varied.
So the recent significant concentration of power in the executive branch, is certainly considered by many to be a threat to US democracy.
There has also been claims of an undermining of the rule of law, accompanied by the intimidation of the parts of the media, and a weakening of legislative constraints on executive power.
And as a reflection of this, across US party lines, 84% of a 2026 surveys participants, run by SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Public Agenda, say US democracy is in crisis, or facing serious challenges, with distinct divides emerging even within the Republican Party which is divided into three groups in the survey.
1. Trump-first Republicans (29%): Pro presidential power by passing Congress, and 3rd term for Trump.
2. Constitution-first Republicans (34%): Project checks and balances and against 3rd term for Trump.
3. Party-first Republicans (36%): Not concerned with political discussion but not sure about Trumps course.
But, the radicalisation or hijacking of the two parties by pressure groups, have not been identified as threats to US democracy by US voters. Oddly, the gerrymandering of electoral boundaries has also not been identified as a threat as such.
Hi both of you.
DeleteLaTawna, by coincidence the Reform party did well in the local council elections (equivalent of your state elections) after your comment. So that was a good spot by yourself. This success has put our unpopular Prime minister in a spot of political bother (again). Your right though, the US is wedded to your existing parties.
Steve, your right to point out that the blatant gerrymandering which is going on a large number of states, including the eradication of some opposition seats is changing the very nature of US democracy and representation. For instance it could lead to a one party South again, and reinforce one party states elsewhere.
Thanks for comments.