Government

Our perceptions of government are really conflicted. Republicans and right-wing Americans want smaller government - except where they don't. They do want a big military (they loves them some fightin'), Social Security, Medicare and food stamps (except that small right-wing group of very rich money-men), bans on abortion, etc. They don't want government when it comes to paying taxes, regulating their guns (they loves them some fightin'), controlling their religion, allowing foreigners onto our shores, etc.

But the left wing doesn't get off easy either. We say we want big government - except where we don't. We do want government to moderate the economy with a re-distribution of wealth, we do want government to regulate our capitalist system, we do want government to protect us from people (and the government itself) from prying into our lives and hurting us (gun laws). But we don't want government spying on us, we don't want a mammoth military and we don't want government passing laws that moderate our behavior (abortion).

And thus - we need two parties that are able to cooperate. Right now, it just isn't in the cards.