The Democratic and Republican Parties

https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/0077434412/cfi/152!/4/2@100:0.00 login: [email protected] password: Cnco2019! Introduction In Chapter 6, one of the topic Domhoff’s discusses is the distinction between the Democratic and Republican parties. As part of this discussion he addresses the question, “Are the Democratic and Republican parties really that different? Not so long ago, this was a very serious question: many people argued that, ultimately, they was little to distinguish between the two in terms of policy. This was largely because they originally represented different economic interests within the upper class (so there was a difference, just not a difference that was relevant to ordinary citizens). While the question remains relevant today, an even more important question is simply, “Why are we stuck with just two parties?” Domhoff addresses this question, too, but for this essay, I want you go beyond the book and think about the issue more broadly. Essay Prompt & Tasks Core assignment. Imagine that you are submitting an opinion article to a major newspaper. In this opinion article, your main objective is to convince the readers that our current two-party system is broken and that a new system is necessary. Additional instructions: Write a thoughtful, well-informed, carefully organized essay that analyzes the impact the two-party system, which obviously dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties, on American politics. Your essay must analyze the positive and negative aspects of the two-party.  Consider the following questions (you DO NOT need to directly answer these questions; I’m providing them mainly to give you a few things to think about): “Does the party system encourage politicians to put ‘party before country’?” “Does the system make it more difficult to pass rational, problem-solving legislation?” “Does the party system (fatally) undermine the system of checks and balances?” “Has the party system turned congressional oversight into little more than partisan ‘witch-hunting’?”  “Is there a viable alternative to the party system?” “What role can ordinary citizens play to improve or reform the party system?” After you finish your evaluation of the positive and negative aspects, you must conclude with a discussion of what you think needs to be done to improve America’s party-based political system (a “discussion” is not just one short, concluding paragraph, but a “detailed treatment of a particular topic”). Suggested additional reading/viewing. Read the articles, https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/267222-the-two-party-system-is-destroying-america & https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a13811801/democratic-republican-political-parties-are-ruining-america/ For a contrary view, you should also read, https://corg.iu.edu/programs/hamilton-views/comments-on-congress/What%20Are%20Political%20Parties%20Good%20For%20Plenty,%20Actually%20.html I encourage you to do your own independent research as well Specific Requirements Write at least 500 words (I don’t do a strict word-count, but is crucial that you write enough to adequately cover the issue and that would be very difficult, albeit not impossible, to do in fewer than 500 words). Single-space and use a standard 12-point font. Write as an essay, which means that you have a separate introduction, body, and conclusion. The “body” might include several separate paragraphs. DO NOT submit an “essay” this is one giant paragraph or even just two or three paragraphs! (NOTE. As college students, you should understand how to write an essay, but in case you need help, please refer to online sources.