well said…

As for the collective impact argument, parties do not enhance the underlying consensus and thus produce candidates that have more party than popular support even within the party ranks. The impact is instead based on two processes: the reduction of the candidate field and institutional control of the election mechanism for established and dominant parties. The first often does not produce better candidates or even consensus ones, as evidenced by the occasional sprouting of third party and independent candidates after a contested primary. The second, through party lines, separate requirements for independent and party candidates, funding mechanisms which favor high cost campaigns and “public” debates which exclude independent voices, lessens the impact of the people and enhances that of the political parties. There is thus no benefit to individuals to organize into political parties. Common concern is better expressed in support of advocacy groups. Individuals can join or leave any number of these without feeling themselves misrepresented.

The advocacy groups, book sales and lyceum-like organizations, by the way, provide the sort of open education that is needed to produce an informed populace. Education dictated by a political system, on the other hand, not only smacks of propaganda and indoctrination, it is both of these.

Donating public money to the politicians does not impress on them any loyalty to the public interest. It does not for the simple reason that public money is received through a system controlled by the political parties. Yet doing so individually puts the poor at a disadvantage. Politicians will then cater to the portion of the populace with the disposable wealth needed to afford the maximum individual contribution. I dispute your contention that politicians work for those who pay for them because I consider it as bribery. Politicians work for all of the populace and are hired by those who voted for them. Plain and simple.

The key here is to eliminate campaign expense. This can be done by a renewal of a sense of civic duty in running for office, serving faithfully and then returning to private life. The opportunity costs of running for office and missing work and income as a consequence can be handled for such offices as require them by book sales, paid columns and platform speaking honorariums.

One further note, it is not necessary for a candidate to know everyone in their district, but for a majority of the people in their district to know them as regards the issues and likely issues during the coming term. For a candidate in the Nominator College (should this be established) would be added knowledge of their ability to know potential Presidential candidates with respect to these issues.