It takes 2 to ruin a Democracy

Let me start by saying I believe the great American experiment has proven to be the most effective and stable form of government there is.  That has been exemplified by surviving the last 4 years of an extraordinary presidency.  The series of checks and balances in place have made for a governmental body that is able to protect itself against many different threats that other countries are unable to bear.

However, just because a government is strong as an organization does not mean that it's good as a governing body.  Several elements provide cause for concern:

• Foreign Lobbyists - No other country that I'm aware of allows direct lobby groups from other countries influence our lawmakers.  This is NEVER good for the country as the lobby is not interested in the welfare of the nation but rather their own welfare.
• Expanding Presidential Powers - The President is not a dictator.  That was made clear from the beginning.  That does not stop individuals in the position of the President to request and use more and more executive powers that are not good for us in the long run.  The problem with Presidential powers is we don't know when or how they will be used; we only know they are not up for debate.  Once they are given, they exist as a matter of precedent and require extraordinary means to remove.
• Secret/Dark budget - With only congressional oversight of a few people these budgets become larger and larger while keeping the people that paid for them in the dark.  There is no telling what the government is involved in through these dark budgets.  National Security is often displayed as the reason and the few people in seats of power are ultimately the target of and susceptible to corruption on many different fronts.  Over time this behavior will result in folly as has been demonstrated several times.
• A government that no longer respects the people, is probably not a good government.  It acts solely out of self-preservation.
  
  

All of these things are problematic, but in my opinion the biggest threat to the country is the 2-party system.  Unlike many problems with a large governing body, the problem with the 2-party system is more cancerous and will lead to a slow death.  The 2-party system is like two smaller governments within the larger.  Like government, each has their own rules of operation.  Like government they are pretty inefficient at most things.  The danger of the 2-party system is the effect it has on the people.  We tend to group ourselves based on the flag of Left or Right.  Democrat or Republican.  You get two choices, that's all.  I find myself agreeing with both sides on individual issues.  But If I want something the Republicans champion it's instantly wrong on the Democrats side and vice versa.  This is the problem.  

Any good idea will likely be vilified not on the basis of the idea but on the basis of who supported it.  This is bad for any governance.  On the other hand, it is good for both sides of the party system.  Where they are able to reduce any argument to us versus them, they are able to eliminate any issue by ascribing it to the other side.  Sometimes a side will try to guilt the other side into voting for their legislation by naming it something like 'Make sure all children have happy lives' bill.  Who would vote against that?  The bill has little or nothing to do with that, but that's ok.  This reduces governance to only issues that both sides from moderate to extreme can agree on.  Things like Congressional pay increases, health care and term limits tend to fit that bill.

Two parties create a government that will only pass legislation at times that the party championing the legislation has a political majority in government.  Because this is the case, it creates a behavior that postpones introduction of any controversial idea until they have a majority and can bully it through.  This is wrong.  Not just wrong, it's evil.  Evil in that you are forcing people to accept behaviors based on the whims of political fate and not on thoughtful deliberation.  As the pendulum swings the abuses of this particular mechanic become more and more extreme. 

Government with representation alone and no parties remove the postponement of legislative ideas and put them back in the representative hands of the people.  No more teams, only ideas.  Will this happen?  Likely not as most people truly enjoy their teams.

What can you do?  I would never ask you to remove yourself from your ideals, but I would ask you to remove yourself from the party using those ideals against you.  The party only uses what you care about to gain power and as long as it's an issue that party's power will continue.  When an issue resolves it ceases to be valuable to the party championing it.  This is why so many things are argued about and never concluded.  Remove yourself from the roles of your respective team and regain your intellectual independence.