Anyone else feel the need for new political parties or to disband them altogether?

I'm not sure we're a two-party system anymore. Yes, there are two prevalent parties, but I'm seeing political parties I didn't even know existed until recently. While the minority, it's still more division. 

That said, I think parties are getting in the way of what's important, and I almost wish we didn't have them. Snakes, I don't know. But, I can tell that both sides are using the label to sling mud- there's more polarization. Democrats this... republicans that... liberals this... conservatives that... It's ridiculous. No democrat I know 100% tows the party line and no republican I know does either. They may lean one way or the other and identify with the group more, which is fine, but it shouldn't be one party versus the other. We should all be coming to the table expressing what we want to achieve and then finding the middle ground to make it happen. You know- we talk about borders, gun control, and so on. We all want safe communities. Why can't we just start there and build our way up rather than picking away at the parties? We are totally losing sight of the issues and solutions because nobody's working together anymore. I don't think getting rid of the parties would solve that though. It's the mindset of the nation now. Historically, the only thing that has truly united our country has been a single enemy. I hope it doesn't come to that.

Ban them all together and have one party. Preferably with a lot of booze and food.

I agree we need to learn to work together. Politicians and citizens. I believe the majority of us want what’s best for our country. We just disagree with how to improve our country. If we discussed issues, articulated our ideas, remained sane, rational, and respectful both sides would be more willing to compromise. You are correct in saying most if not all of us don’t agree 100% with a party. There are stubborn people on both sides who are too loyal to a party. There’s also a problem with people demonizing those who disagree with them. This is all nonsense and divides us more.

In my opinion, the Dems and Repubs are two arms of same shamelessly corrupt political monster. Neither is much better than the other, both fail their constituencies. 

It would be a revelation to have other factions enter the conversation, bringing more players into the game, but we know how hard it would be to round up enough funds for them to compete on a level field. Of course it’s about the money.
How about a national referendum forcing the passage of legislation to choke off the river of lobbying money flowing into political coffers? A pipe dream. 

If we can motivate all citizens to become better informed and more active in the process, make their own minds who the best candidates are instead of robotically playing partisan lemmings, we might see better representation in, and the flotsam left adrift, regardless of party. This post was edited by Don Barzini at July 8, 2018 1:56 PM MDT

In case you didn't get the memo, we have a representative form of government. Parties all seem the same because they all have to represent the same people.

Let's imagine a party wants to ban red cars. Some people will join, but most don't care. However, some people want lemon creme donuts at the coffee shop, and if your red car party will support a lemon creme movement, then they will join.

Meanwhile, the opposition wants to ban pink hats. Nobody cares about pink hats, so the party does not get any members with that angle. So they decide to ban pink cars, but red cars are ok. Oh, and lemon creme is ok but there has to be a tax on it.

This process goes on all the time, parties jockeying to get members, bending their platforms to conform to what the people will vote for. It reaches a point where each party has to adopt a unique color and a specific brand of soft drink so you can tell them apart.

Politicians are often accused of being liars. Well, that is their job: they don't speak for themselves, they speak for the voters who elected them. And the voters are not always clear on what they want, so the politicians need to change their stance instantly at any time.

I'd like to see the Democrats and Republicans go the way of the Whigs and the Tories.  I don't like either one because neither one of them can stay away from being stupid.  

I'm a negative voter.  I don't vote for people, I vote against their opposition.

Why politics always seems stupid:

Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

"Delivered unto me," get it? Satan is the god of earthly authority. Anything from Satan seems like the most brilliant idea in the world to whomever has the idea, and incredibly stupid to everybody else.

Well in the U.S. we have more than just two parties.  They are not perfect but they get people together so I think they are OK.  A lot of people prefer to think for themselves so don't necessarily follow their party's line anyway.  Both parties are not fixed but flexible.  Being a Republican in general meant something a lot different back when I was young and considered myself a Democrat.  Now with no change in values or most beliefs I find I am a Republican! Figure that out!

Why not start your own party if you want to?