Not Invited to the Party: How the Demopublicans Have Rigged the System and Left Independents Out in the Cold

Description

Not Invited to the Party demonstrates how the dominant political parties--the Democrats and Republicans--have co-opted the system to their advantage. James Bennett examines the history and array of laws, regulations, subsidies and programs that benefit the two major parties and discourage even the possibility of a serious challenge to the Democrat-Republican duopoly. The American Founders, as it has been generally forgotten, distrusted political parties. Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution are parties mentioned, much less given legal protection or privilege. This provocative book traces how by the end of the Civil War the Republicans and Democrats had guaranteed their dominance and subsequently influenced a range of policies developed to protect the duopoly. For example, Bennett examines how the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as amended in 1974 and 1976), which was sold to the public as a nonpartisan act of good government reformism actually reinforced the dominance of the two parties. While focused primarily on the American experience, the book also considers the prevalence of two-party systems around the world (especially in emerging democracies) and the widespread contempt with which they are often viewed. Featuring incisive commentary on the 2008 election, and a foreword by third-party iconoclast, Ralph Nader, the book considers the potential of truly radical reform toward opening the field to vigorous, lively, contentious independent candidacies that might finally offer alienated voters a choice, not an echo.

Get the book

Amazon.com

Search the book

eBay.com

Search the book

Similar books

• 

  I'm Not Invited?

  By Diana Cain Bluthenthal

  Diana Cain Bluthenthal knows how to be a comfort -- to Minnie or anybody -- with a story and pictures that are funny as well as true to life. Minnie, by week's end, is a wreck.

• 

  I Am Invited to a Party!

  By Mo Willems

  Attending her first party, Piggie follows "party expert" Gerald the elephant's advice on what to wear, with surprising results.

• 

  You Are Not Invited to My Birthday Party!

  By Barbara Match, Kenneth Fink

  Stacey has a dilemma. She's planning her birthday party and wants to invite all of her pre-school friends, but what happens when you don't have any friends left to invite?

• 

  You're So Invited: Panic Less, Play More, and Get Your Party On!

  By Cheryl Najafi

  With You're So Invited, she shares her fresh approach to entertaining to get you planning your next--or maybe your first!--party without fretting or fussing, so you can relax and have as much fun as your guests!

• 

  I Wasn ́t Invited to the Birthday

  By Susanna Isern

  Feeling left out? This story on imagination and friendship helps cure the not invited to the party blues.

• 

  Girl Meets Change: Truths to Carry You through Life's Transitions

  By Kristen Strong

  Personal. There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. C. S. Lewis. My. daughter, Faith, stood gussied up in satin and tulle, and she notsopatiently waited her turn to walk down the aisle as flower girl in our ...

• 

  Ask a Manager: How to Navigate Clueless Colleagues, Lunch-Stealing Bosses, and the Rest of Your Life at Work

  By Alison Green

  Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better.

• 

  Dear Office-Politics: The Game Everyone Plays

  By Franke James

  The dilemma-based social game that teaches you how to play (and laugh at) office politics.

• 

  The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over

  By Marvin Karlins, Jack Schafer

  Offers advice and strategies for readers to get others to like them, assess truthfulness, and read the body behavior of others.

• 

  Staying Well: A Guide to Family Wellness

  By Ron Frazer

  This is a reference book that a busy mom can turn to for a quick answer about many health concerns. The small price of this book will save you many dollars in health care costs.