But people disagree about what makes the country "a better/worse place" and that disagreement leads to political parties and the need to win to promote policies

But people disagree about what makes the country "a better/worse place" and that disagreement leads to political parties and the need to win to promote policies they agree with. Just consider any wedge issue to see how this works, e.g. abortion and the fight over supreme court justices as a result. The issue is the rhetoric these days is dominated by useful idiots online spouting talking points and propaganda to the point that "debates" are nothing more than whatever scores points (literally points = social media likes).