Socialism is a natural tendency in a democracy. The web, markets and yall are the best hope we have to protect freedom for a few hundred more years.
Dixie, don't let me discourage your dream. Mark Twain's comment came to mind when I read your post, but I'm really optimistic that things are getting better.
Most political skullduggery and mutual handwashing used to be done under rocks, out of the public view. But there's less of it than before the internet was invented by Algore. Rush Limbaugh, JimRob's Free Republic, and others have exposed a lot of the slime.
There's a long way to go, but at least when (for example)Twinkletoes D'a$$hole or Leaky Leahy display themselves to be total dumbbells and obtuse partisan obstructionists, that information does get dragged out into the light, rather than remain hidden in some dark recess.