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Dave Kopperman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4239
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 7:24pm | IP Logged | 1
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@Evan: don't get me wrong; our system is still finding its way and it's entirely possible that it will evolve again in the future to a multi-party system, as the nature of our democracy evolves. But America is a pretty unique exercise in a truly multiethnic, multicultural society, and demographics with less power cannot simply show up and expect to win battles on their own. Parliamentary coalitions are fragile, brittle things to hang your futures upon if your community needs results within a reasonable time frame, while in our two party system the long, sometimes shit-eating work of allyship can steer an entire government (this is a thing that young'uns don't fully understand).
We're very much a binary society, and our current parties reflect that.
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Michael Roberts
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 14964
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 8:51pm | IP Logged | 2
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We're very much a binary society, and our current parties reflect that
——-
I’d argue that we’re not, but our current parties force us to be.
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Evan S. Kurtz
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 04 July 2022
Location: Canada
Posts: 486
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 8:53pm | IP Logged | 3
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I emphatically agree with you, Michael. A big problem the US faces is that it's a very vast and diverse country and minimally four groups of people shoehorn themselves into aligning with two political parties, to the benefit of nobody.
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Dave Kopperman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4239
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 9:47pm | IP Logged | 4
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I'm pretty sure that we weren't conditioned to be tepid towards RC Cola and First Comics because we grew up in a country with Democrats and Republicans.
Again: it's not shoehorning. It's about learning to compromise to achieve your goals, because compromising is inherently an act of empathy, because it forces you to recognize that not everyone shares all your beliefs. But they share some of them, and you work with that.
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Charles Valderrama
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5004
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 10:03pm | IP Logged | 5
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Here we go.... Stephen Miller announced as the new chief of staff.
Voters just rejected his agenda and signaled they wanted a change of direction. Trump’s response? Promote the architect of his mass-deportation campaign to the center of presidential power.
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Brian Miller
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 32361
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 10:18pm | IP Logged | 6
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Of course. Would you expect him to do anything other than double down?
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Vinny Valenti
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 8750
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 10:20pm | IP Logged | 7
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"I’d argue that we’re not, but our current parties force us to be."
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Yep. I feel like there's no place for someone like me in today's political landscape.
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Vinny Valenti
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Joined: 17 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 8750
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 10:23pm | IP Logged | 8
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With Trump digging in his heels, I can only hope that the remaining Republicans realize that the Emporer no longer has clothes, and they can now feel free to move against him without fear of losing his endorsement and in turn losing their jobs. But maybe that's crazy talk.
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Dave Kopperman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4239
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 10:26pm | IP Logged | 9
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@Vinny: I feel the need to point out that one of the big stories here is the rise of DSA and similarly-minded candidates in the party that has shifted it to the left. Because they stuck around and did the work to move the party in that direction. You don't like the party, come into the party and move it where you want it. Add your voice and then wait the ten or fifteen years for it to take effect.
This view of the parties as objects rather than large groups of individuals is the broken bit. Be the change yourself. @Charles: you, too!
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Charles Valderrama
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5004
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 10:39pm | IP Logged | 10
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"Be the change yourself."... we did our part as voters. NOW I want our elected officials to do their jobs to the full extent that the laws... and the Constitution permits. (Thankfully many - including myself - are being very vocal and sending messages to their representatives.)
The new Congress needs to meet the challenges BETTER than before or we are toast.
-C!
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Dave Kopperman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4239
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| Posted: 06 November 2026 at 10:50pm | IP Logged | 11
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Interesting way to simultaneously refute and support my point. If "doing your part" began and ended with voting, why do you feel the need to "[be] very vocal about sending messages to [your] representative."
Either democracy begins and ends with the vote or it's an ongoing interaction with our representatives. Which is it?
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Charles Valderrama
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5004
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| Posted: 07 November 2026 at 3:39am | IP Logged | 12
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Which is it? It CAN be both. Of course it's an ongoing interaction with our representatives… which is what I said… but it’s even better when our elected officials do their jobs. Extra credit when they obey the rule of law. ;) (we should call them out when they fall short of that.)
“Be the change yourself”… if you’re doing more than I just mentioned then that’s great; good for you.
My view of the parties is as “large groups of individuals”- many who are compromised… which in recent years was more transparent than ever.
Wish we had more guardrails in our government.
-C!
Edited by Charles Valderrama on 07 November 2026 at 5:42am
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