Why do we have political parties?

If you are reading this hoping I will answer the question, I will not. I am really asking this question. Why do we have political parties?

I have heard for years that we need a two party system. A third party only messes things up. We don't need a third independent party but a revitalised Republican/Democratic party. Fine. But why do we need parties?

I am so tired of people voting for the "D" or the "R" after someone's name. Or listening to and disregarding others because they have a "D" or "R" by their name. We should asses each individual candidate on their merits. What they say. And more importantly what they do.

"Well we can't have a hundred candidates." You say. "We have to narrow down the field through primaries." You say.

Fine. Lets make some rules. And I am just spit balling here. If a candidate meets the criteria to run for office, the laws of the state, and the federal government; then they can run. Maybe they have to get 10,000 signatures. Maybe 100,000. Whatever the state puts out there. Then you have a primary and lets say the top three vote getters run for the office. No party just each candidate evaluated on their merit.

"It will never happen. Their is too much money and power wrapped up in the Democratic and Republican parties. Too much history." You say.

Right. And they won't let it happen. They will not go quietly into that good night. But do they run the country? Or do the people?

"Well, even our founders belonged to a political pary." You say.

True. But would they belong to either one of the parties we currently have?