Looking at Duverger's Law with Fresh Eyes

From an extensive discussion of Duverger's law at the Constitution Party discussion forum:

Duverger’s Law is often cited by conservative groups as a justification for not endorsing third-party and independent candidates who have successfully passed their strict vetting process. It is the basis of the argument that third party and independent candidates split the conservative vote and allow liberals to win, therefore there should only be two parties so forces with similar philosophies can combine to defeat the “enemy”. This misunderstanding of the sociological phenomena inherent in various electoral systems, as observed by French sociologist Maurice Duverger, has led to the deterioration of the original Constitutional Republic. Understanding this process and understanding the characteristics of the original electoral system of the United States can help us restore a government where the people, not parties, have the final say in governing themselves.