Our system functions best when we have two political parties — one liberal populist and the other conservative corporatist. Both have their virtues when they act virtuously and with respect for the other side's virtues. Think FDR through LBJ, including Ike.
Sure, there was plenty of opposition in those times, but there was nowhere near the successful obstructionism that we have now. The back-and-forth of power and ideas is what makes America's democratic republic work well.
Right now, what America has are a centrist corporatist party (Democrats) and a reactionary corporatist party (Republicans). Populists HAVE "crashed the gates" this year, but sorry, kos, it was NOT progressive populists who did it, although it almost was.
No, the gate-crashers this year were nativist populists who have taken over the reactionary corporatist party and who have told the reactionary corporatists where to shove it.
The Trumpian Takeover of 2016 is very much akin to what happened in the 1850's when nativist Know-Nothings forced the disintegration of the Whigs.
My suggestions…
- Let the centrist corporatists have the Democratic (since they want it and have it already).
- Let the Green Party become America's new populist party (mostly liberal, but with a welcoming handshake extended to those populists on the right who might be willing to talk).
- Let the Republican Party drown in a Whiggy abyss.
It's time to realign.