True. I do think the two-party system is oversimplified, but I do still like the idea of reasoned debate. As the other commenter demonstrates, there's a large population who doesn't even understand what I'm talking about - they look at everything in terms of "winning" elections. The notion of actual governance doesn't enter into their thinking.

Of course, they are probably right, and with no commitment to counting actual votes, republican legislatures are free to call "elections" however they want to. In such an environment there will be no opportunity for anything like civics.

But I do think if the Democrats opened their tent truly and fully to include all the conversatives, they would have a large marjority. It may require them to change the name of the party, as a way of proving the point.