[ColoradoTree]

As I said before, though, I think the main problem is that our system was designed around finding compromise which is close to impossible when you have highly ideological parties. Given those parties, a parliamentary system works better, unless your preference is for the government to simply stop functioning, then our current system is just hunky dory.

I think the problem is that for one of the two major parties, a functioning and efficient federal government isn't nearly as important as it is to the other.  This is why Democrats will be at a disadvantage in any government shutdown fight, because a shutdown is catastrophic to a Democratic view of government (as a potential force for good in people's lives, as shutdowns mean that various programs Democrats find important stop helping people) but somewhat in service of a Republican view of government (as a restriction on individual liberty through onerous regulations and omnipresence in American lives), particularly since the military remains functioning during shutdowns. 

Thus, a neutered federal government isn't a bug to many Republicans--it's a feature. 

[ColoradoTree]

As I said before, though, I think the main problem is that our system was designed around finding compromise which is close to impossible when you have highly ideological parties. Given those parties, a parliamentary system works better, unless your preference is for the government to simply stop functioning, then our current system is just hunky dory.

I think the problem is that for one of the two major parties, a functioning and efficient federal government isn't nearly as important as it is to the other.  This is why Democrats will be at a disadvantage in any government shutdown fight, because a shutdown is catastrophic to a Democratic view of government (as a potential force for good in people's lives, as shutdowns mean that various programs Democrats find important stop helping people) but somewhat in service of a Republican view of government (as a restriction on individual liberty through onerous regulations and omnipresence in American lives), particularly since the military remains functioning during shutdowns. 

Thus, a neutered federal government isn't a bug to many Republicans--it's a feature.