Want to return to first principles and Constitutional government? Stop voting for Republicans and Democrats

Via the Hankster's weekend news roundup comes a link to a commentary in the Houston Chronicle by Bill King calling on independent voters to elect independent candidates who refuse to pledge allegiance to some factional interest group such as the Democrats or Republicans.  King writes:

Today the political parties enjoy a quasi-legal status. Their role in the electoral process is memorialized in federal and state election law and candidates in most states are allowed to identify their party affiliation on the official ballot. The "two-party system" is a standard subject in high school civics classes almost as if it is enshrined in the Constitution. But it was not so at the birth of our republic. . . . 

George Washington was quite pointed on his views on the subject, frequently criticizing any association with political parties. He saved his strongest condemnation of political parties for his famous farewell address, which was published in 1796 on the eve of his retirement from the presidency. . . . For the normally gentle-spoken Washington, his words are blunt even by today's standards . . . "they (political parties) are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government," . . . We may have to add "prophet" to Washington's accolades. And just in case you have not gotten his drift yet: "... the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it." . . . 

King concludes:

Washington must be rolling over in his grave today as politicians from both sides adamantly defend the highly partisan political life we now endure. Many argue that the parties are an essential element of the American political system to justify their quasi-legal status. Sorry, but our Founding Fathers disagreed and so do I.

We need more independents who claim no loyalty to any political party. Currently about one-third of us identify ourselves as independents and the number has been steadily growing for the last few years. Perhaps if the number continues to grow we can start electing some independent office-holders who will put their country, states and communities before a slavish devotion to a party platform.

The Democratic-Republican two-party state and duopoly system of government represents a threat to constitutional, democratic-republican, representative government in the United States. So long as you continue to support Republicans and Democrats, you remain part of the problem.  Declare your independence.