"The purpose of a political party is to win elections"

How utterly sad! And how tragically true in these corrupted times. That is the whole sum and substance of what political parties are about, and it's a wholly false premise upon which to base leadership and public service.

The true purpose of leadership and public service should be to SERVE the people, not to win elections. As long as the purpose is merely to win elections the public will be lied to, defrauded, and robbed.

Was it the purpose of Joan of Arc to win a popularity contest? Was it the purpose of Jesus or Gandhi to do so? No. It was their purpose to serve and free their people, even unto the death. That is the only purpose of honest and true leadership. Leadership is a form of self-sacrifice in the interest of the common people...not a competitive game in which to win and hold the privileges of power.

And that is why both the Democrats and Republicans have damned themselves, in my opinion. They're basically in it (at the top level, I mean) for their own gain.