Why the US has two parties -- & how to add more | Sarah Messerschmidt | TEDxValparaisoUniversity

Could you reimagine our idea of voting so that we could allow for more democratic representation among society within our friends, businesses, and government? A brief history is provided of the First Past the Post (FPTP), or majority wins, voting system in America, then discuss how this system has led to unenthusiastic and unengaged voters because it always leads to a two-party system. President George Washington originally warned American society against a two-party system in his Farewell Address, so this talk proposes multiple alternative forms of voting and discuss how other Western countries have used them as a model for America. Some of these voting systems would include the Alternative Vote, Single Transferable Vote, and Mixed Member Proportional Representation.
Sarah Messerschmidt is a junior undergraduate student at Valparaiso University majoring in both International Economics and German with a business minor while also being a Christ College honors scholar. On campus she serves as the President of her sorority and a tour guide for the Valparaiso University Office of Admissions. Her research interests include political theory, developmental economics, and corporate social responsibility. After undergraduate studies, Sarah hopes to pursue graduate school in economics and work for the U.S. government. She is thrilled to speak at TEDxValparaisoUniversity! Sarah hopes that after her talk, you will have a better understanding of how systems of voting affect political reality so that you will be encouraged to fight for a more equitable representation of government. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@chrisarnold8644]

Thank you for your informative presentation and sharing your thoughts on this topic! So important for citizens to have an understanding of how the current voting system works, in order to make progress on the shortcomings of our current system. Lastly, what a great opportunity to present at TEDxValparaiso! Thanks for being so courageous to be a presenter.

[@mickeyconnor830]

Way to fight past the nerves and present your piece, kudos. I would have absorbed more information upon first viewing, had the speaker slowed down and taken the time to articulate, enunciate, and breathe more. Otherwise, informative!

[@weisswurster]

Public speaking is difficult, especially if you're speaking at TEDx

[@ElizabethGilbert2]

Very informative! I'm glad to have learned more about what this would look like and how to get there

[@christinemesserschmidt4572]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this important topic!

[@elizabethmesserschmidt534]

Thank you for this :)

[@MyMerryMessyGermanLife]

After living in Germany for three years, we have seen this play out. It’s not perfect, but it’s a LOT better than how things are done in the US. It is more stable. People aren’t so politically divided. Germans don’t talk much at all about politics among friends. More people are better represented and it’s really amazing how the coalition governments have to comprise to get anything done. Also, politicians aren’t allowed to campaign until 6 weeks before the election. This has so many benefits! The citizens don’t have to be bombarded with political ads for too long. It’s much less stressful as an everyday citizen. Secondly, it greatly decreases the funds that are needed for campaigns. This is where so much corruption happens - candidates no longer feel they can vote their conscience if they’ll lose their funding. America desperately needs this system!!

[@causticmonster]

did the fair representation act pass?

[@freechineselearning3129]

Learn with Lisa 🇨🇳🙏🏾

[@xumacislost9144]

wow im early

[@christianmarx3249]

lol just 60 likes after a year

[@freechineselearning3129]

Love ❤️ China 🇨🇳 🇨🇳🇨🇳

[@sadiedog5071]

Good to see the Chinese approve of this proportional representation scheme. That's all I need to know.

[@gabrielinacio6331]

Please!!! Never do that. Here in Brazil there are too many political parties and is such a mess LMAO.

[@sadiedog5071]

We have multiple parties in the US, but only two parties are prominent because there are only two mindsets that everyone falls into. You are either conservative or you are liberal and there is really nothing in between. The Democrat party represents the liberals mindset, and the Republican party represents the conservative mindset. A third or fourth party, like the Green party or the Libertarian party will be either liberal or conservative. Ranked choice or proportional representation voting will result in a non-functional government because you don't have a cohesive team of representatives in congress. The result would be a failure to get anything done in congress unless members compromise their political values and capitulate to the opposition party. In reality Marxist liberals want to use proportional representation or ranked choice to muddy the waters, to eliminate the clear cut polarity of the liberal or conservative options. Twenty years ago there was no major divide between Democrats and Republicans, but as the Democrats become more socialist, more Marxist, the divide is has grown, and now there is no middle ground. So to maintain relevance the Democrats are trying to eliminate the electoral system, and they are trying to manipulate your vote. Maybe the media lied to you about the Republican candidate, but you can't vote for the Democrat either, so you select your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices. For the Democrats this is a big win, they prevented the strong conservative from winning office. This is always the strategy of the losing party, change the rules of the game.

[@carstenhansen5757]

If you vote for anyone, than the winner, you've wasted your voice, as I understand it.

[@mikeoxlong3676]

I was on board until you said it would get more women elected.