I think the parties are beginning to phase themselves out. Their monopolies have simply forced them to morph into third parties under the guises of Republican and/or Democrat. The old Democrats would have never censored speech. The New "Democrats" will censor in a heartbeat. The old Republicans would have never allowed gay marriage. The New "Republicans" simply don't care.

Completely agree. In fact in the information age it should be so easy for both candidates and the voting public to be able to get and share what they need to know to vote people in or out regardless of party. The only things standing in the way of that are voter ignorance/apathy as well party choke holds on every component of the election process.

Here's an interesting thing to wrap your mind around. What if a Constitutional Amendment were passed somehow to ban any and all party associations and make everyone run or vote based on individuals? What would happen then?

Well, first of all you'd see a rush for people to identify what they believe in. Where they stand on almost every issue.

Then you'd see apps and websites to help people navigate that information.

And then you'd see (most likely - not guaranteed) a new level of voter involvement as people have to actually work to decide whom they're voting for.

Why don't we have that?

Oh, I know why. Because of the choke hold of the Republicans and Democrats, as well as stupid bipolar politics in this country as exemplified by the extremists on this site.