Jean-Jacques Rousseau, intellectual father of the French Revolution and foundation for American liberalism, was not always wrong.

From Of The Social Contract or Principles of Political Right, Book 2, Chapter 3:

If, when an adequately informed people deliberates, the Citizens had no means of communication among themselves, the general will would always result from the large number of small differences, and the deliberation would always be good. But when factions arise, small associations at the expense of the large association, the will of each one of these associations becomes general in relation to its members and particular in relation to the State; there can then be no longer be said to be as many voters as there are men, but only as many as there are associations. The differences become less numerous and yield a less general result. Finally, when one of these associations is so large that it prevails over all the rest, the result you have is no longer a sum of small differences, but one single difference; then there is no longer a general will, and the opinion that prevails is nothing but a private opinion.

No factions, no cabals, no political parties. Screw campaign finance reform, just outlaw all political affiliations. Vote the man, not the party.

What a concept.