To quote George Washington "They [Political Parties] serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party" http://tinyurl.com/3o757q. The two party system in the US encourages people to not be informed voters, but to tow the line for whatever party they have supported in the past. It discourages real discourse in this country because the voters already 'know' who they are going to vote for before the candidates are announced. And it promotes divisiveness and hatred where there are no real cause for such emotions.

There's no real reason to do so. If your independent you can vote for whoever you want. Political parties are just a tool, used by elites, to keep your options limited to the ones they choose.

I think that people do themselves and the nation a great disservice by putting party ahead of principle. If we would vote based on the person rather then the party we would be far better represented then we are under the R/D split that dominates our political system. Our elected officials would also be advised to vote their conscious rather then the party line. Party politics is used to swindle us out of our votes and ultimately our money and freedom.

People often go after what either their parents or friends think. Then they think they have to believe everything one party says. Why can't people just run as people instead of party leaders?

Political parties create "professional politicians" who are completely out of touch with the average citizen.

Political parties create elections won and lost by who spends or doesn't spend enough corrupt money.

Political parties replace collaboration with blind competition.