There was a recent article in Medium about the power of 3, teasing that 3 is the perfect number in nature. [Why Tesla Called “3, 6 and 9” the Secret of the Universe] The article is much truth and much satire but it makes quite an impression. The Framers chose 3 branches of government in hopes that if one became dominant, the other two could combine to thwart it. I suppose this is a close as we might ever come to their chimera of preventing tyranny. If two branches conspire for dominance, all bets are off.

But today we have the tyranny of a two-party system which the Framers did not foresee. Several comments to this article have express how easily any country can slip into tyranny with one party in control, perpetuating its power. There is also a suggestion of a complex tiered democracy of shared power, democratic, and consultative.

Perhaps three parties are just the right number; not too hot, not too cold, but just right. An independent party to moderate the other two. Perhaps we should rethink the “party” completely and semi-officially designate an independent party as “none of the above.”

Regardless of any good ideas replacing the bad idea of a dysfunctional duopoly, one immovable obstacle stands in the way: The Electoral College. Full stop.