General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Serious question (not trying to bait anyone). What do you make of the rise of Independents? [View all]mythology
(9,527 posts)The people most closely aligned to the parties are the more relative edge. That leads to more extreme candidates, it has also led to an echo chamber where each side believes not only that the other side is bad, but people believe factually inaccurate things. Before you say Democrats don't, look at how many people here insist that actual votes were changed in 2016 or that anybody who disagrees is a Russian agent.
It also leads to a government that is ineffective and swings wildly. For example look at the dozens of attempts to repeal the ACA or the pressure on Republicans to make bigger "better" tax cuts.
By having a wider array of voices in the party you moderate the influence of the the extreme ends of the party (both the more liberal and more conservative ends).