zlacker

What you are describing is already more-or-less the system we have. You don't need to be nominated by any political party to run for office or have your name printed on a ballot.

>>russel+(OP)
The rules for parties are often easier. My argument is that they shouldn't be.

I also don't like that a party could literally pick a name out of hat to designate their presidential candidate. Of course it would be terrible for a party itself to do that, but the system is setup so that name would end up on an awful lot of ballots.