[mtgx]

I'd still say FPTP is like 80% of the reason why third-parties can't rise to power in the U.S. and elsewhere, but yes, the two main parties have added further obstacles to make the rise of third-parties in the U.S. from almost impossible to virtually impossible (save for a country-wide "wake up" and a huge rally behind a "surprise" new party, etc)

[matttproud]

Want to see it rid itself of first-past-the-post? Support and donate to these folks:

http://www.fairvote.org/

They are — as best as I can tell — the only group aiming to reform the electoral formulas used across the country.

The U.S. can't keep kicking its defective cans down the road. Duverger's Law will hold it hostage otherwise: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverger%27s_law

[twobyfour]

> The U.S. can't keep kicking its defective cans down the road.

Of course we can. Especially if they happen to primarily benefit the people already in power and in charge; especially if nobody runs on an election reform platform; especially if most of the electorate doesn't understand or can't/doesn't want to make the mental effort to understand what's wrong with FPTP; and especially if people keep getting distracted by other (admittedly very important) issues during campaigns.

[sidlls]

Condorcet Voting and multi-member district representation would go much further toward a more egalitarian political system than the stuff FairVote focuses on.

None of these things, however, is as effective as sustained, direct action. Even with our broken one-party-two-factions system this is so.