"The best system is to have no parties whatsoever, .."

Perhaps...but you KNOW like-minded folks would collude behind the scenes. It might be safer to keep them semi-public about it. *IF* there are to be parties, a genuine multi-party system like Israel uses could at least allow people to group themselves into arrangements that more closely represent their actual views....This would require a total change in the primary process and voting procedures, as well as congressional changes.

"...but strictly on their own individual merits and ideas."

That is the rub....such a system would allow really good ideas and candidates, but would also invite every off-the-wall kook to claim equal rights to the process instead of being vetted BY the party system. (as we see at the moment, it is already a problem within the system). Designing a way to sort thru the field without $$$ involved would be tricky. I AM willing to consider ideas to make that work.

Remember, the Greek system required everyone to serve a term, like the jury system.... that both intrigues & scares me.