Should we have political parties at the state and local levels?

[Anonymous]

Republicans claim that the government shouldn't be in our private lives, the federal one, though, right?

So, why then do we also have political parties at the state and local levels. Isn't that the point. That the government at both levels stay out of our business

The elephant is the republican parties animal, literally representing LARGE government, no matter where it is

[BarryLiverstone]

Yes we need them at state and local levels.

[Asker]

Why?

[BarryLiverstone]

Because government is important at state and local levels. We elect representatives to create laws and help our society.

[Asker]

But why political parties.
It shouldn't matter what party you are, right?

[BarryLiverstone]

Because organized parties are better at fund raising for campaigns.

[Asker]

Not necessarily. Trump, was never a republican, he was an independent, and even a dem at one point.

He was already loaded

[BarryLiverstone]

For most politicians at state and local levels, when they choose to run they have registered for a party and start to fund raise. But they win their primary and have the ability to tap into the money the party has for their final campaigns. Trump and other well off people are the exceptions and not the rule.

Another reason they are organized into parties is for primaries to run and for them to be listed on the ballet. Like state level nominees can represent the party policy on a number of issues

[Asker]

THE EXCEPTIONS

[BarryLiverstone]

The exceptions. Less than 10% of all politicians running at the state and local levels are not billionaires. So people like Trump (an exception) and like Ross Perot a while ago have the ability to self fund a national campaign which is like running a small business for a year and paying staff

[Asker]

Exceptions aren't exceptions. They're rule breakers. You said it yourself, the exceptions, not the rule

[BarryLiverstone]

The “rule” is most people running for office are part of a major party (Republican or Democrat) and they organize to fund raise for their campaign. That’s normal in the USA. Whether is for the state senate or city mayor

[Asker]

Exactly
The rule. Anything other than, are rule breakers
They broke the law

[BarryLiverstone]

You asked about state and local races, the question wasn’t about Trump and Perot. They ran national campaigns across all 50 states

[Asker]

Illegally

[BarryLiverstone]

No, I’m legally able to answer questions on gag