Are we simply stuck with politics as usual, or can we change? [View all]

[dfgrbac]

I continually see many complaints about how government fails to function on behalf of the people. There is no doubt that the general population is not very happy. It's no wonder that the GOP and their "Tea Party" hijackers make headway talking about reducing or eliminating government. Fortunately though, I still believe most Americans actually think the government is theirs and that it can work for us again if only we elect the right people. So politics as usual continues to be used as the means to change. But, things are not changing. After more than 200 years we should be able to see this strong built-in tendency towards corruption in the people's government.

The government is meant to be of, by, and for the people. But something seriously important was left out of the Constitution although Founding Fathers expressed their fear of it. And that is the corrupting influence of money and the resulting power it grants. The average citizen cannot compete with this resulting in laws that are not "of the people".

As a citizen of the United States, what do you consider to be your responsibilities to assure the government works for the common good? Do you believe the corporate good is the same thing? Is the economic model for free-market capitalism sustainable?