The Two-Party Nation

[Updates below.]

The schism in U.S. politics begins at home

The assumption since the 2000 election has been that the United States is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Nationally, this is still true.

At the local level, however, that 50-50 split disappears. In its place is a country so out of balance, so politically divided, that there is little competition in presidential contests between the parties in most U.S. counties, according to an Austin American-Statesman study of election returns since 1948.

[...]

Today, most Americans live in communities that are becoming more politically homogenous and, in effect, diminish dissenting views.

[...]

The fastest-growing kind of segregation in the United States isn't racial. It is the segregation between Republicans and Democrats.

Copyright 2001-2004 Cox Texas Newspapers, L.P. All rights reserved.

Bill Bishop, the author of this article, asserts five things, each with supporting statistics:

• Voters have become less independent.
  
• Voters have grown more partisan.
  
• Voters cast more straight party tickets.
  
• Congress compromises less often.
  
• The parties have become more ideological.

There are also three charts displaying some local presidential election data for Travis, Williamson, Hays, Burnet, Caldwell, and Bastrop counties showing the change in Republican/Democrat preference over since 1948.

Kinda slams home the notion that third-party candidates are wasting their time trying to get elected to major office. Stick with local races where hundreds or even tens of votes can make the difference. This is one of the reasons I'm helping the Texas Libertarian Party get back on the ballot for the November elections. Local laws and regulations tend to have a greater impact on our lives, so it makes sense to focus on regional and state campaigns.

UPDATE 9/24/2004 5:27pm
The Austin American-Statesman, Voting, Free Speech, and Information

Posted by Drizzten at April 05, 2004 04:48 PM