I have to disagree again. The fact is, our system is controlled by the elites in several different ways...they have developed systems to ensure that only candidates who broadly agree with elite interests will ever see the inside of a political office.
First, is the media. The media is mostly owned by folks who, to one extent or another, are members of the elite who "play ball". They will never allow a maverick who threatens serious elite interests to win a major political office. I realize that there is a political spectrum in our elected leaders, but certain ideas are totally out of bounds (the federal reserve system, for instance).
Second, is the campaign finance system, which is rigged to favor entrenched interests and to give them lopsided influence in elections.
Third, is the unelected bureaucrats. To a certain extent, the holders of office are superfluous. It is the entrenched paperpushers who are there from one administration to the next who wield the real power behind the scenes.
Any maverick candidate who appeared and began to fight against a precious elite interest would: 1) suddenly be on the receiving end of an avalanche of negative media. 2) Would not receive any of the major institutional campaign money 3) would never get his policies past the entrenched bureaucrats 4) would, if all else fails, be mysteriously gunned down by a loner with a long history of psychiatric problems (Huey Long and George Wallace got this treatment).
Even if what you say is true (and I don't believe it is) that does not preclude the citizen from taking the time to understand the issues and continuously vote people who espouse your take on things out of office.
First, is the media. The media is mostly owned by folks who, to one extent or another, are members of the elite who "play ball". They will never allow a maverick who threatens serious elite interests to win a major political office. I realize that there is a political spectrum in our elected leaders, but certain ideas are totally out of bounds (the federal reserve system, for instance).
The media and/ or the elite do not control the myriad elections, Town, City, State which constitute the Nation.
Second, is the campaign finance system, which is rigged to favor entrenched interests and to give them lopsided influence in elections.
Money is not the problem, the unwillingness of the citizen to hold to constitutional dictates and elect people accordingly is.
Third, is the unelected bureaucrats. To a certain extent, the holders of office are superfluous. It is the entrenched paperpushers who are there from one administration to the next who wield the real power behind the scenes.
I don't what you're really referring to here, if you cite some concrete examples maybe I'll understand your thinking better. I work for City government and I can assure you, it's the elected officials who are running the show, not some third drawer paperpushers.
Any maverick candidate who appeared and began to fight against a precious elite interest would: 1) suddenly be on the receiving end of an avalanche of negative media. 2) Would not receive any of the major institutional campaign money 3) would never get his policies past the entrenched bureaucrats 4) would, if all else fails, be mysteriously gunned down by a loner with a long history of psychiatric problems (Huey Long and George Wallace got this treatment).
To the contrary, the bigger the maverick the more slanted 'newcomer' attention he'll get. The negative avalanche occurs when the candidate has something in his past to be ashamed of. George Wallace lost because he had a record of saying things like "I'll never be out niggered again", not because he was misunderstood by a negative media. They may not have lauded whatever good he might have done, but he was a fire breathing racist until such a time as he had a change of heart.
The people of this country are responsible for all that occurs. As imperfect as it is, there is no less corrupt government on the face of the earth than ours. It's up to us as informed, selfless citizens to make it better.