Quote from: SEC agent on May 23, 2013, 12:11:33 AM

Quote from: Elwar on May 22, 2013, 11:37:53 PM

Quote from: SEC agent on May 22, 2013, 11:29:46 PM

Those citizens who are unsatisfied with how they are being represented should vote for people who represent their interests better or run for office themselves.

Our government is, as Lincoln stated, "of the people, by the people and for the people".

Should. But they do not.

They vote for the guy they think can win during the primaries then vote for the lesser of two evils in the general election.

That's a problem of the people, not a problem of the system. The government doesn't force people to vote that way, the people choose to vote that way themselves.

Well the system perpetuates it. Politicians take money so they can spread their message in a favorable way. You cannot blame politicians for taking money, the system allows it so the output will trend toward them chasing the money. You cannot blame the citizens who try to get as much out of the system because the system allows it and the output will trend toward them chasing the money and voting for politicians that will reward them. You cannot blame the lobbyists since they are rewarded for supplying money to the politicians who will use the power of the government to favor them. The system allows it.

The one step in there that can be blamed is the use of force against people to gain money and power (at the point of the gun under threat of being kidnapped and held prisoner). That is the problem with the system.