Will we ever reach a greater than 2 party system?

[Jacobtm]

Britain and Canada use FPTP SMD and have more than 2 main parties. Latin American democracies also show that FPTP SMD systems with Presidents can maintain more than 2 parties.

In 1992 when Ross Perot nearly got 20% of the vote, Bill Clinton won the EC by a majority. In fact, with most states giving the EC votes to the plurality winner, it seems that our system really helps ensure (at least with only 3 parties) that someone will get an EC majority even without a PV majority, as long as one candidate is favored by a few points at least.

I wouldn't be surprised if New England Democrats eventually became corrupt enough to allow Greens or independents to get some seats there.

Maine had an independent governor until 2003.
Vermont has an independent Senator.
Connecticut has a Connecticut for Lieberman Party Senator.
In NJ, Daggett (I) is now polling around 20% for governor.
In NY 23, we have a situation where the Conservative Party candidate might actually win.

Unfortunately, the people who've bucked the 2 party system haven't (so far) helped establish any alternative system, they just stick out as exceptions. However, enough exceptions could hopefully lead to something. Not that New England/the North-East is at all destined to break the 2 party system, it just seems most likely in a region with an effective 1 party monopoly that doesn't have authoritarian tendencies.