ests trying to produce legislation that party structures were necessary shortcuts to accomplish all the work that needed to be done.
But the Founders' fears were justified. Political parties in the United States operated primarily on the national level, with contributions from the state parties as their source of income. But, after the 1970 Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1970 allowed parties to raise money from individual contributions, the national party became the supporter of the state parties. This changed the U.S. from a candidate-centered system to a system in which "very few candidates for national or important state offices run without expecting and receiving significant aid from the national party" (Kayden 186). This aid, from a highly organized professional staff, includes demographic information, support in getting out the vote, aid in soliciting funds from PACs and from individuals, and help with compliance procedures--all the things that are necessary for running a successful campaign. The result of this is that those who give the most money to the parties, and thereby have the greatest influence, are able to make their wishes felt at the centralized national level. This carries over into the selection of and support for candidates at other levels. Therefore, rather than encouraging representation for varying opinions, political parties reduce difference among those represented. They tend to produce candidates who, by appealing to the largest number, are capable of winning. This reduces the number of issues on which a candidate can possibly differ from the central party--thus producing a nearly uniform party program for the entire nation. Independent candidates simply cannot compete with these professionally organized parties and dissenting opinions are rarely capable of getting a chance at the voting booth.
The Founders also had a reasonable fear of public opinion and hoped that sound institution...