Ways of Reimagining Our Two-Party System

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/20/opinion/ways-of-reimagining-our-two-party-system.html

Version 0 of 1.

To the Editor:

In “Dump G.O.P. for a Grand New Party” (column, June 8), Thomas L. Friedman says, “America needs a healthy two-party system.” Really? An increasing number of voters don’t feel that the present two-party system does anything but maintain the two parties.

As more and more voters become independent, it is time for America to examine ways to get more players into the political mix, people without the major party loyalties that increasingly seem to be at odds with the country’s welfare. We will never get the nominees we deserve if we let the two parties control the nominating and electoral process as they currently do. Open the system.

RICHARD ROSENFELD

New York

To the Editor:

Thomas L. Friedman is right that the G.O.P. has failed the country, and long before Donald Trump made it excruciatingly obvious. But the answer is not a new “center-right” party, as he proposes. The Democratic Party, in largely abandoning its traditional constituents — workers and unions — has become the center-right party. What we now need, as Bernie Sanders well demonstrated, is a true center-left party.

MARCIA ANGELL

Cambridge, Mass.

To the Editor:

Thomas L. Friedman thinks the Republican Party is morally bankrupt because of — what? Because it doesn’t have “sensible” positions on his list of liberal issues, such as global warming and more gun control. He doesn’t understand why Republicans are skeptical about man-made global warming and don’t believe in gun control.

Too many liberals think that any political position other than progressive is morally wrong.

REID K. BEVERIDGE

Broadkill Beach, Del.

To the Editor:

Thomas L. Friedman’s column is superb in its analysis of the need for a new Republican Party. As a white man living in the Deep South, I must add that racism is the major reason that Republicans were able to turn the South from deep blue to deep red. There can be no new Republican Party until it rids itself of voters who are highly racist.

BERT O. RICHMOND

Athens, Ga.

To the Editor:

Thomas L. Friedman does not provide sufficient evidence for why we should have a two-party system. We should have a no-party system, very short term limits and public financing of very short campaign periods. It should be an honor to serve our country, not a long-term career.

JOHN PARIS

Atlanta