While doing my end of year clean up I came across this essay by Krugman. (You may see several more of these from me in the next few days.) Krugman's essay describes well a point I have been making here for some time.

What happens when the political party you normally affiliate with no longer reflects your values, but the other party holds no appeal for you, either? Where do you go to get done what you want done politically? Answer--nowhere because we have fashioned a system where realistically only two parties are allowed to compete. (Ask yourself this question. When you watch a Tea Party rally or visit a Tea Party site, are they better at reflecting your frustrations or your values?)

The answer I offer, once again, is to change the political system to allow third parties to compete. Then we will really see who has the ideas that attract a consistent majority to its banner and take us towards the long term solutions to our problems.

Here's a link to Krugman's essay.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/opinion/09krugman.html