It's the parties, stupid

It's pretty clear that our federal government does not function in our interests.  Mickey Edwards, a former Congressman, believes that the dysfunction is rooted in our system of political parties. He makes some basic points:

• We need to eliminate primaries which are controlled by the parties.  Here in Connecticut I can't vote in the primary because I am not a member of any party.  More importantly, voter turnout in many primaries is low; the finalist may be someone who has been elected by a minority of the party faithful.  California and other states have moved to a single primary for all candidates; the top two vote-getters go on to the final. 
• To be fair, redistricting cannot be under the control of the parties through their elected representatives.  It needs to be done by those who are independent of the people seeking election.  Again, there is some activity in this area as some states have created  nonpartisan and independent redistricting commissions.
• Our Congress is geared to the needs of the parties, not our needs.  Committee assignments are based on party fealty, rather than competence in a particular area.  One cannot get ahead unless he/she follows the party line religiously.  The disassociation of the two parties runs in just about all areas. On the House floor, Republicans and Democrats must speak from separate lecterns and when they step off the floor to use their phones, drink coffee or read newspapers, they do so in separate cloakrooms.
• And, of course, money for the campaign is available to those who toe the line.

Edwards concludes:

Our current system, with parties controlling who gets on the ballot, what districts they run in, and what happens to large amounts of potential campaigns funds, rewards incivility and discourages cooperation. If we allow that system to continue, it is we who must share the blame for a government that can no longer function.