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As I said, at times it was about as representative as you could get, given the era (that's not saying much, I know - Senators who cared about their districts were few and far between). I would point out that, just as in those times, even today, if you want access to the politicians, you better have some money for them (or their campaign as it is) - this holds true for Republicans and Democrats, and God forbid if you think you can run for a major office with just good ideas and good intentions - the people with the money or who can attract the money will stomp you into the ground.

Let me ask you this - you mentioned the slaves displacing people from the land, what do you think of comparing it to the illegal immigrants of today - if George Bush gets his way (and something tells me he will - he's been very arrogant about wanting his "guest workers" legalized, and when he acts that way, he usually finds a way to make it happen), millions and millions of illegal immigrants will become American citizens, and they will legally be able to go after the lower class jobs that many avoid these days for fear of being caught (it's a lot easier doing day labor where you're paid in cash than working for companies that might create a paper trail you'd rather avoid). It could cause a huge disruption, to say the least, as well as seeing a situation where we end up having even more people go to the government for handouts.

The Roman Republic was a lot like Mexico today : a rich country owned and operated by a few hundred families. The slaves were more like organic machines who were bought into Italy to work the big plantations and drive the free farmers off the land. As far as the imigrants are concerned, I do share your concern, but they are more like the Barbarians who during the 2nd Century began to infiltrate into the Empire. Marcus Aurelius spent much of his reign trying to keep them out. During the next hundred years , the pressure became greater and greater. Diocletians and then Constantine managed to hold back the tide, but finally, in the 5th Century, the dykes in the West collapsed.