The more I look at this election and the previous ones both in America (not just the US) and Europe and the more I have the feeling that the political system has been sick and broken for quite some time and that it's only since 5-4 years that the visible parts of it have surfaced.
If by political system you mean the party system , then yes. That has been a huge issue in the modern world. In fact even for longer than that. It started being an issue few elections after it's creation. Hence why Washington's first warning to his Americans was about the party system, because it was causing issues already when the parties started up with Jefferson/Madison/Adams/etc.
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Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume. "
- George Washington, Farewell Address.
The 2-party system is not something that is best one when it comes to a full on-elective government. It's a system that works good with a monarchial system, where you do have a monarch at the top who can keep both of the parties in check, and the parties of course keep him or her in check. It does not work in a full elective system, because people give into their passions for their parties, and what not. I mean the saying "
if you're voting for a 3rd party then you're essentially voting for the other major party" has been used to make people guilty for not sticking to these 2 parties.
Now this of course is an issue with all nations of democracy, that followed America's example with a 2-major party system. 2 parties have monopolized the political scene, but not only that have monopolized the ideas/minds of the very people they're meant to govern. Rather than governing the nation for the benefit of the people, politicians often enter to benefit themselves, which is not what the government is there for. Asian, african, european, american nations all suffer from this, some at a much higher scaler than America. America just happens to be in the spotlight.