I think personal freedom is a basic right; I'd like to think at least that I'm able to control my own life.
As for political parties... I'm too lazy to explain it, so I think I'll just quote someone who had the correct view of things:
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
-- George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796