"Both of the powerful political parties were under the domination of wealth; not, to be sure, openly so, but insidiously. Differences of issue there assuredly were, but these issues did not in any way affect the basic structure of society, or threaten the overthrow of any of the fundamental privileges held by the rich. The political campaigns...were, in actuality, sham battles...

The masses of the people were simply pawns in these political contests, yet few of them understood that all the excitement, partisan activity and enthusiasm into which they threw themselves, generally had no other significance than to enchain them still faster to a system whose beneficiaries were continuously getting more and more rights and privileges for themselves at the expense of the people, and whose wealth was consequently increasing by precipitate bounds."

-- "History of the Great American Fortunes", Gustavas Myers, 1910

In 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations was founded to institutionalize the process and to manage policy for the "two-party system", with major support from the Rockefellers. For background, see these related articles.

"The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one perhaps of the Right, and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can 'throw the rascals out' at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy... But either party in office becomes in time corrupt, tired, unenterprising, and vigorless. Then it should be possible to replace it, every four years if necessary, by the other party, which will be none of these things but will still pursue, with new vigor, approximately the same policies".

-- Prof. Carroll Quigley (CFR historian, Bill Clinton mentor), "Tragedy and Hope", 1966, p. 1247-48

"Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure -- one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it."

-- David Rockefeller (CFR chairman 1970-85), "Memoirs", 2002

CFR agents Bill and Hillary Clinton had "their turn" to screw the public 20 years ago, and the stench of corruption and burned bodies still lingers. Here's hoping that Donald Trump wins the final round this time, just for the entertainment value if nothing else.

UPDATE: For a review of how the establishment has manipulated the "two-party system" to select their desired candidate, see this article by James Perloff.