An Indian coworker expressed to me how they would have a much better system if they pared down to two political parties “the way the US has.” He is from a country with 6 recognized parties and 1700 unrecognized parties and I’m sure the bits of US politics that make it around the world center around the D and R camps.
Having worked two decades to spread the idea that the two party system does not represent people well and is the root of many problems today; his comment was pretty shocking. Yet at the same time I understood his frustration and naivete. Other parties are simply not on the radar to the general people and the American success narrative must sound like the siren song to 500 million people who don’t even have indoor plumbing.
I quickly blurted out that division of power was better than consolidated power like two large parties. I don’t think he understood how all those factions keep a check on things so no group gets very strong and they must work with multiple other groups to get anything done. Along with that I think I pointed out that they view politicians as corrupt and think ours are shiny clean saints … I think its best to not presume people seeking power are so worthy of it. Loosing the skepticism is likely to let ones guard down.
In five minutes or less what else could be said in a similar situation? How do you sell liberty in an elevator pitch.
