[NYer]

There are a whole bunch of ways that one may acquire brownie points, such as donations to the party coffers, assistance in a national election or byelection,

Isn't the same true in our country?

[MarkBsnr]

Exactly so. There are many people in the US (many of them here on FR) that snoot about with the superiority of the American versus English systems of governance.

When the British PM screws up, he can be tossed immediately and without months of hearings. When the governing party screws up, Parliament is dissolved and new elections are held immediately. Throw the bums out now becomes the mantra. And in Britain, the monarchy is hereditary and essentially decorative. The US has an elected monarch who is essentially untouchable until the next election 4 years away.

The appointment of individuals to high offices that you could not trust with either your daughter or your wallet goes on in either system.