Yes--glad you brought up the "independents" That would be the answer for us all--IF we got to the point where we simply did not have "parties" at all.
AND--the TV stations did not accept paid ads, but, as a public service, hosted, let's say--10 "candidates forums" in September and October.
Also--NO paid ads in newspapers nor on the internet.
AND--at all government levels--we did not put candidates on the ballots based on "political party" affiliation.
Yes--LOTS of problems implementing those ideas, but we need solutions to the political mess we have right now.
Definitely--one place to start throughout the nation--is to have the public more involved in local government decisions. Straighten out the politicians at the local level and then move to the state and federal level.
The bottom line: A revolution in this country to get politics out of government!