So the Independents are actually not really Independents?A few do--that's mostly what the independents are. But the parties serve as important pillars of society out on the frontier. Well, mostly it's the unions, social groups and business associations affiliated with the parties that serve that role, and then they get their members to vote for the parties. The power of the duopoly is one of the things that defines America and binds its people together across the Solar System.
And ah. That's just scary. Certainly a big change from what you originally had.