it does not have to be like this, but the "Major Parties" don't want anything else because they can manipulate pluralities so easily through their media ties.

imagine not having to "throw away your vote" on the "lesser of two evils" while still being able to express your relative approval of all candidates. oh, how i wish for an electoral process in the U.S. that satisfies the Condorcet Criterion (i like Tideman's method in particular). alas!

(you have my most sincere apologies for the lameness of the provider hosting the linked pages.)