Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

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ELI5: Why do only the two biggest parties in the US a chance to win an election? (self.eli5)

submitted 2 weeks ago by tux0r to c/eli5@lemmy.world

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I mean, there is a variety of intriguing political parties, but it's still always "Republicans or Democrats". Why?

(Disclosure: I'm German, never been to the US.)

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[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The two ruling parties have a very long history in this country, are backed by the billionaire class and therefore have unlimited funding, and they use their power to suppress third parties nationwide so voters only ever have two choices.

Yes there are other choices, but it's exceedingly unlikely and rare for a Non-Democrat and Non-Republican to get elected anywhere other than locally, largely due to the monied interests backing the two ruling parties.

[–] tux0r 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

they use their power to suppress third parties nationwide so voters only ever have two choices.

How do they do that?

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

There are several ways. Some states have made it harder for candidates to get on the ballot, which is one method of suppressing third parties. Sometimes they sue and challenge a third party's ballot status, as was done to Jill Stein several times this year. In some states, they don't really have to, as they can use their unlimited funds to ensure their names are the only ones heard in the media.