You ever feel like politics has turned into one big high school popularity contest, only everyone involved is a millionaire who couldn’t care less about the rest of us? Yeah, me too. And I’ve come to the conclusion that the biggest problem isn’t just the politicians — it’s the damn political parties.

Red vs. Blue. Left vs. Right. It’s like one giant football rivalry, except nobody’s actually playing to win for the people. They’re just trying to beat the other side. And while they bicker and grandstand and send fundraising emails filled with doom and gloom, the average American is stuck working two jobs, trying to keep the lights on and gas in the car.

I’m not saying everyone in politics is trash — okay, maybe 90% are — but the parties themselves? They push people into these neat little boxes. You’re either with them or against them. No room for nuance. No room for independent thought. Just toe the party line, or you’re out.

Imagine if we ditched parties altogether. No more red or blue ballots. Just people. Real people running on real issues. Not puppets backed by PACs or groomed by lobbyists. Just folks trying to fix the mess we’ve been handed, instead of making it worse.

Hell, maybe then we’d actually listen to each other. Maybe people would stop voting against someone and start voting for someone. What a concept, right?

We were supposed to be a country of individuals — not tribes shouting over each other on cable news. And if that makes me sound like a grumpy Gen X guy who’s fed up with the system… well, you’re damn right.

Get rid of the parties. Keep the people. Let’s vote for ideas, not brands.