I think there's definitely importance in debating between the inalienable or natural right of a person to represent himself in government versus the acknowledgement that those elected officials are not at all qualified to make these decisions in terms of academic or industry experience.

I dunno. At some level I know that a lot of politics is 'rigged' and more of a game to win than a position of honor and service. I don't know why we glorify the grunts of the military while defaming the politicians; I feel like being a politician should be a sacrifice driven by a desire to serve the country they love. There should be no huge campaigns that require massive PAC's to even consider entering, and the salary certainly shouldn't be a temptation. They should be justly rewarded for their service but millionaire politicians ought to be an oxymoron.

I'm as torn on the issue as you are. I'm interested to see the other responses.

Well, I suppose if your only choices in an election are virtually the same, then it isn't exactly a democracy, or even a choice. It's just the illusion of it. Sure, there would likely be 2-4 parties that would be the popular ones because of overlapping policies that people agree with ,but seeing as America  is vastly larger than the UK, yet somehow only has two majority parties, it does make you think what's going on. Not everyone has the same opinion on everything, we already see a wide spectrum of political beliefs and ideologies on here alone.

It's like giving you the option of wearing the blue shoes or the red shoes. Where the fuck are my orange boots and my green wellingtons?

You should just vote for Vermin Supreme - that is, if he's running for President this time around.

I guess the next question to ask is if this is something to be up in arms about, or if we should be happy with it. Are these masterminds trying to benefit the country or just themselves?

A bit of technocracy is always good.

There are important differences between the parties, that's for sure, and they'll have important impacts - especially since the break-up of the Solid South. However, there's nothing essentially game-changing. I mean, let's be honest, the real governing body is the bureaucracy and, alongside that, the Federal Reserve.

It isn't too bad an arrangement, although a bit more of the (genuine) democratic process wouldn't necessarily go amiss.