Opinion: Why the U.S. Should Get Rid of Political Parties

*** This article is the author’s personal opinion and perspective.***

The United States should get rid of political parties!

First, people often vote for their party, Democrat or Republican, and they don’t even care about the actual candidates. I think without political parties to guide voters, people would be forced to actually think about the candidates and their campaigns.

Although you might argue that  we also have a third party, the Libertarian Party, so it is not just about Democrats or Republicans. Votes for Libertarian candidates usually make up about 1% or less of the vote. Some people who want to vote for a Libertarian candidate might just end up voting for the Democrat or Republican,, because they know that even if they vote Libertarian, the party always comes out with such a small percentage of the vote. The Libertarian party candidates don’t win, and their votes essentially become wasted. 

This change to end political parties has already been made in many territories, republics, and monarchies around the world. Believe it or not, Nebraska’s state legislature is unicameral. Meaning, the candidates' parties are not listed on the ballot. And, political parties are even banned in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates!

In closing, if the United States political parties were removed, I think voters would be more educated on the actual candidates, and end up voting for the person they want in office not the party.