That may well be true but the fact is that if we the people exercised a little more supervision of our employees in government there would be FAR less corruption!
Perhaps we are beginning to see that with the advent of the Tea Party movement. I certainly hope that to be the case!
Yes, our system requires a virtuous and engaged citizenry.
A legislative chamber representing the people was an absolute necessity. There was no way the larger states would ratify equal representation with the small ones as was done under the hapless Articles of Confederation. The Convention almost fell apart until The Great Compromise was struck between large and small states.
In the years before the Civil War, it was common practice for people to carry around pocket Constitutions when going to a political speech or meeting with a congressman. These pocket Constitutions were bound in red or blue, but not white, because most Americans worked with their hands, and they would sully a white cover.
When hearing a congressman make a promise in a speech or when discussing an issue with a congressman, people would take out their pocket Constitutions, thumb through them and dispute whether the congressman was honoring the Constitution or not.
The publication and bearing of pocket Constitutions, and their open use at political gatherings, might be a worthy project for the Tea Parties.