Why do we have political parties?

Question

Back when the country had just started, a man (George Washington) said in his opionion not to have political parties, and if you look at where we are now, republicans v. democrats and democrats v. republicans. We can't agree on anything (most of the time), and we just throw accusations and insults at eachother. So why not just ban political parties and just all be a "no party"?

sorry about the grammer but i was trying to type it as best i can.

Answer 1

I know. Democrat and Republican developed later...

But with that said, we need it today. There is much division and by what the republicans wish to do, they would give up all our civil liberties and turn us into a dictatorship. We have to have two parties to equal things out.

Answer 2

The foundation of the modern state under the thesis of John Locke and Rousseau (as well as Hobbes) relies on the creation of a State (whatever its form, civil government, voluntee generale or Leviathan) through a social pact arisen from within the free inhabitants of the society, which create a body which will represent all of them.
Effectively, the pyramidal structure is endemic to any civil form of organization. That's why parties had been risen as a necessity, basically.
The problem is that the US carries the old problem from the industrial Britain, where the only parties where the Whigs and the Tories, and no real pluripartidism existed.
The same happens in US. A real democracy needs mutable and renewing democratic institutions (political parties). US politica had characterized for being immutable and static, rigid, third or fourth alternative parties are materially impede to access power, even thought they are way ethical and trustable than "democrats" and "republicans" (ask Nader).

Answer 3

Personally, I agree that political parties should be abolished due to the fact that people vote based on that party and the views which are represented, not the individual. It has been increasingly hard for one to identify ones self as either democrat or republican, because many times, they see positive side in both as well as common flaws. For example, I suppose I would see my self as a democrat, however, on average, they tend to represent being too liberal and lacking in the financial knowledge that republicans are renowned for. Basically, it is a ridiculous system implemented for those who otherwise are not capable of formulating an opinion. Just one of the things on my agenda when I run for president.

Answer 4

I've definitely wondered the same thing. It make so much more sense, doesn't it? If only we could all deal with things in the same way, everything would make sense. The problem is, as long as we're all human, that can never happen. People are always going to see things differently, because no matter who you are, you're faced with a different perspective of any situation. Washington had a point, and he could somewhat prophetically see that political parties would only divide us. It's a very core issue that can't ever truly be resolved, but one that could possibly be our demise. It doesn't matter if you throw a label on it and say that it's 'republicans vs. democrats'; it's always going to be someone against another. People will never fully agree on every issue.

Answer 5

Do you watch reality shows? When several people agree to tolerate each other because they all agree that another group of people are wrong? That is politics at a low level. Just social groups of people who join up to effect a policy change.

We can never be rid of the damned things, just stir them around a little.

Answer 6

Because some people prefer to focus on the principles that have already been tried and seem to be true (conservatives) while others think that the past is full of too much hypocrisy and oppression so some new ideas are needed (liberals).

Answer 7

We need political parties to voice opposition and for Americans to have a revolution with ballots every 4 years. Civil arguments keep us alive, honest and aware of issues. One party we wouldn't have that and we wouldn't have each party watching the other.

Answer 8

People with common interests (e.g., gun laws, taxes, national defense) gather together to get their programs enacted.

Let's say that you though that the 2004 Tsunami (250,000 killed) was so horrible that you wanted to prevent them from happening again. You would gather as many people as you could to get your program enacted.

You just created a political party.

Actually, you don't have to. Just click on SPLATT on the left to read my profile and about the Stop PLATe Tectonics environmentalist wacko group.

Answer 9

We already have that "no party," its called .......
Independent.
Do not confuse the Independent party, with the Green Party..the Green Party.. belongs to Ralph Nader and all the free loving, pot smoking, draft dodgers...

Independent...free of any party affiliation...votes with regards to issues, not party.

Answer 10

We don't have to have a two-party system, but it seems to work most of the time. I think it's good to have ideas and philosophies from at least two sides.