In one of the infinite parallel universes entertained by theoretical physics, the United States is identical to the one we know on our own Earth. Except for one crucial difference: in place of its immovable party duopoly of Democrats and Republicans, this other country – call it US-Prime – boasts many more factions that routinely and successfully jockey for power.
Like on our Earth, two parties predominate: the Progressives, mainly representing urban professionals and technocrats; and the New Whigs, the vehicle of mildly conservative suburban affluence. But neither can ever clinch sufficient votes to govern alone. More often than not, the Progressives and the Whigs have to form grand coalitions with each other, or else partner with one or more of several smaller factions. These, among others, include the Justice Party (a left tendency with its base in the professoriate and elements of the organised working class); the Greens (the name gives it away); and Faith and Soil (a regional farmers’ movement, based in the South and Midwest, which exists to counter the Greens’ climate initiatives).
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