Why the US still has a better political system than most democracies.

Photo by Alejandro Barba on Unsplash

Growing up and living in parliamentary republics, it took me some time to wrap my head around the American system of elections. Canada and India have almost identical ways of electing their leaders, most of which is inspired by the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Irrespective of political outcomes, I have come to terms with three main conclusions.

1. Democracy is a compromise and the practical case for a 2 party system: It is very hard to find a candidate who checks all my boxes for the issues I would vote for. I prioritize my issues and need to come to a conculsion what I care more about. In Canada or India, I choose a party most aligned to my cause. However, the multiparty system can thwart the chances of my candidate or in some cases, force my candidate into a compromised coalition. The chances of the policies I desire coming to fruition is largely dependent on a party my candidate has allied with, who I did not vote for. In a two party system, I can vote knowing the compromises before hand.
2. Americans vote for 3 people across 2 branches of government, most of the world votes for 1 person for one branch — Ask a Canadian and the only person they could vote for is their Member of Parliament (similar to House Representative). The House of Representatives decide the Prime Minister. Canadians cannot vote for their senators. Also, the senate in most countries is proportional to population. In Canada, British Columbia (~5 million population) has 6 senators, Quebec (~8 Million) has 24 senators. — the United States, a senator from Hawaii is as powerful as one from California. The once in 2 year voting serves as a break-point if there is immense dissatisfaction with the ruling. In Canada, you wait 4 years to change or hope for a coalition failure. In India you wait 5 years or hope for a coalition failure. Both places you cannot elect your senators. While Australia has a better system of voting for both houses of legislature, they still cannot vote for their Prime Minister.
3. If America followed Canadian style elections, Obama would’ve lost 2012, Clinton would’ve still lost 2016: As discussed earlier, the House determines the executive branch of the government in most other countries. Republicans won the House in 2012 and 2016 — which meant that Obama would’ve lost his second term if there wasn’t a presidential election. Voters had a choice of their representatives, senator (most states due to 6 yr cycles) and their president. American’s for most part rejoiced the 2012 result while lamented and objected the 2016 result.