Ganeshas Rat wrote:
The US has no party members (and therefore no parties). That GOP and democrats are called parties is some historical misconception; some other word should be used, 'clique' or 'faction' or 'the most noble house', somewhat like this. To registered democrats: what is the share of your income you pay to the party annualy? Stalin for example was sending 3% of his salary each month that is fixed in his party card.
That is an interesting point, but maybe not the one you were trying to make. Our parties may be different, but they are definitely parties. There are laws and traditions that make it basically impossible for a 3rd party to join the club.
It's not for a lack of trying, in the 1800s there were the Know Nothings, and TR started the Bull Moose party. None of them last, none of them won the presidency.