                I'm writing my essay about the corruption of the two-party political system in the United States. I will argue that the whole system is completely outdated, and we can do much better. How can we allow ourselves to choose between the lesser of two evils when talking about all the issues we face as a country? Why do we accept the fact that candidates change their stances on so many issues just to fit into the mold of one of the two main parties? I will explore the possible solution of candidates running on an independent platform, thus freeing us from the corruption of politicians going against their beliefs, while catering to their respective parties. In my essay I plan to answer these questions and many more. My essential question is why do we continue to support the two-party system in the United States, even though it's proven to be problematic?

                The reason I am interested in my research question is because I see myself as an Independent when it comes to politics. I don't want to have to vote for a Republican or a Democrat. The question affects me and my values because I am very moderate in my beliefs, having some opinions that are more liberal and some that are more conservative. The way our political system is setup right now does not allow people who share my set of beliefs to have a shot at the presidency. Drawing from my personal experience with the current Presidential election; I'm a supporter of Bernie Sanders, but I, in no way, agree with his stance on every issue. I consider myself to be socially liberal but fiscally conservative, I often find myself torn between the two parties without a candidate I can stand behind one hundred percent or even eighty percent. I believe I am qualified to write about this issue because I consider myself to be a well-informed, citizen of the United States. I value my freedom of speech and my right to vote. 

Charles Wheelan, a professor of public policy at Dartmouth College, and author of "The Centrist Manifesto," argues, in his book, the centrist party takes the best principals from each of the dominating parties, therefore being very moderate. In the article that I read, where Wheelan discusses his book, it states that we can start making a difference in the two-party system stranglehold by voting more candidates with a centrist platform into the Senate. The major values in the article revolve around having a more centrist and moderate government. Wheelan argues that we, as a country, need to start shifting away from the two-party system so we can get the extremists out of power and actually start getting things done. Being a college professor and someone who has run for office makes Weelan very credible. I'd say of course he has a bias towards getting rid of the two-party system as he identifies himself as a centrist. 

I am also using part of George Washington's Farewell Address as a source for my essay. I am focusing, in particular, on the part where he talks about the two-party system being the death of America. Washington warns against political parties for the benefit of the country as a whole. He warns of the dangers that factions can cause. The major value included in the part of the Farewell Address that I'm focusing on is liberty. The two-party system really takes away a lot of our liberties as citizens of the United States just as Washington warned us so many years ago. George Washington is one of the most credible people who has ever lived on this particular subject, as he himself was a Founding Father of the United States. Of course, his bias was against the two-party system.

An excerpt from a Boundless Publishing political science textbook discusses some of the generalities and history of the two-party system in the United States, as well as the advantages and disadvantages. The only interest in this reading is to inform the audience. Seeing as this reading comes from a textbook I'd say this can be taken as a credible source. Also, there is little to no detectable bias since it is purely educational.

My research question, "why do we continue to support the two-party system in the United States, even though it's proven to be problematic?" is very arguable. One could argue that we should not do away with it and list the ways it does our country good. Or one could say we could, and we should get rid of the two party system and have someone as president that doesn't belong to one of the two main parties, following Washington's advice. I have noticed that most of the sources I have found are attacking the two-party system rather than defending it. Most of my sources support the claim that something has got to give, but most disagree on how we should go about taking the two-party system down. Seeing all of these ideas on bringing the system down makes me believe more and more that it is possible and that it will happen eventually. Maybe, instead of focusing on why we should do away with the two party system, maybe I should focus on how to do away with it.

