I don’t recall reading a provision in the Constitution of the United States that says political parties are supposed to be running our country. I am a no-party voter. I am even offended by party politics. Because of political parties people like me even have no representation in Congress.

So where is it people? Where in the Constitution does it say political parties are ok?

It doesn’t mention them at all. It doesn’t say they are required or disallowed, doesn’t make them legal or illegal.

I guess you could argue it’s an extension of freedom of assembly.

It wasn’t entirely politician’s fault, the early American people would label groups of politicians supporting ideas and this started the process of political parties.

The numbers are pretty clear at this point: short of some political catastrophe, Hillary can’t catch Obama in elected delegates. That means for her to get the nomination, it would come down to superdelegates.

Obama’s campaign has swelled the ranks of the democratic party, and brought in young people and people disillusioned with the political process who wouldn’t otherwise vote. If the party machinery anoints Hillary, what happens to all those people?

My opinion is the Democratic Party and the democratic process loses a whole generation of people who say "screw it, my voice doesn’t count so why bother?" What do you think?

I believe that the superdelegates are going to follow the trend in each of their states and no one will win the nomination on the first vote. I believe that there will be a LOT of wheeling and dealing going on at the DNC. In the end, we’re going to see an entirely new Democratic Party,one that will head off into uncharted territory from that point onwards.

Watch out though, for the October surprise. I’m SURE that the Repubs are going to pull a fast one over on America and sneak their guy into power.

Brighest blessings,
Raji the Green Witch

What political party would you support and why? What are the roles of political parties today and in the future?

i support the Republican Party.

i am looking for a way to continue my social science education with out having to take classes. before moving my major was political science and my minor was going to be sociology. due to my new job its too much of a strain to drive 50 mines every other day after 8 hours of graveyard.

You can find not only a list, but books to look at and read about at Amazon on almost any subject, including social science.

http://www.amazon.com

I just went ahead of you there, and first I put in ’social science texts’ (being sure I was in the Books category) and there is a choice between 6,988 texts there.

I’m sure some aren’t current, and you won’t have to look long before you may see a string of books you don’t want.

Be aware that at Amazon, if a book says ‘Search Inside’ on it, you can click on it to separate it from the others, then again, and on any link to the left that interests you.

Under simply ’social science,’ there are 302,934 books there.

Have you also considered an online college? They can end out to be pretty pricey, and you’ll still have to do time management to get your work done (though you can do it anytime)… but there’s that as well.
Luck–

When each state votes during a primary election, one or two candidates are elected for a subsequent general election. But how do all the candidates from all the states become "one" national candidate for the general election in Nov?

The nomination for the presidential candidate is made at the party’s national convention. There are delegates to the convention from each state. In theory they cast their votes in accordance with the way the voters in their state voted. The results of that voting determine the party’s nominee for the general election.

Don’t they realize that would mean the last betrayal, and the Democrats losing the Black vote?

Without that 22% of their base, the Democrats will lose for sure.

Are those people who say they want Hillary true Democrats, or Republican operatives trying to split the DNC?
No, refusing to vote for Hillary due to a coup means that we won’t be voting for a party that supports racism, leaving aside a candidate who was fairly elected only because he happens to be Black.

I think Hillary and her supporters are willing to implode the Democrat party forever.!!! (=

I moved to America recently after getting my medical degree in London. When I went back to England to visit family, they were all talking about how great Obama is. They knew a lot about the American election. Then, when I came home, I asked Americans about the British government. No one in America knows anything about the British government.

Why do British people know about American politics, but Americans know nothing about British government?

Americans are secular and no very little about anything besides America which explains why we are socially awkward when communicating with the rest of the world.

Our education system teaches us about nothing but ourselves so we don’t learn to appreciate what’s different and get a sense of entitlement which is why so many uneducated americans feel they are better than everyone else.

Hello, I’m a political science newbie and I’d like to know why is it necessary for political scientists to compare different governments of different countries? Aside from the government itself, what else do we compare when we study comparative government/politics?

And what’s the difference between international relations and comparative government? Thanks!

it is important because it gives valuable information.

And has it always been problematic to resist authority, or question politics? How do other countries view and deal with this?

Every known society (either existing or that once existed) needs to maintain internal order and protect its members from exterior threat. In the simplest hunting/gathering society, that authority may be placed on the most able man. In that case, he is the "government." Any politics that may be involved would simply be the determination of who is best suited for the job. So, from this perspective, government/politics have always existed.

We can even see it functioning in non-human forms. It is fairly easy to pick out the Alpha male in a family of apes. For grazing animals, one has to lead the flock to the next meadow. Even social insects have an internal hierarchy. And so forth.

In nature, the problem of resisting authority is taken care of pretty simply. If a male sea lion feels that he should lead, he’ll challenge the existing Alpha male to a fight. The loser leaves the island. Or, when two rams bang their heads against each other, they are not doing it for the exercise.

Among human beings, the process is basically the same, just more subtle. We use words, innuendo, prejudices, etc. In America, fund raising has a great deal to do with who leads. But, in the end, it just comes down to two people butting heads.

In the U.S. and other industrial countries, we have been able to successfully challenge authority with labor strikes, demonstrations, and grass-roots political campaigns. In more repressive countries, this is not possible. When students in China tried to protest government action in the 1990’s in Tienenman Square, they were simply shot or crushed beneath tanks.

Naturally, these are two extremes. You can find examples at various places along a continuum of discontent that separate free countries from police states.
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I know VP elect Palin has challenged and exposed her own party so I would like to know if anyone in the democrat party has ever displayed such courage.
Who comes to mind?
Anybody?
Somebody?
Buhler?

* crickets * silence *