I wish that everyone would stop pretending that we live in a Democracy. Which means a government by the people. The lobbyists that are employed by big business are the ones who truly write legislation and shape policy. The wealthy(plutocrats) run this country which means that we live in a Plutocracy. LAND AND POWER! The only development that will occur on this island is the kind that is given the okay by the wealthy land owners. Regular folk be damned but by all means enjoy the studies and meetings that give you the opportunity to drop your comment into the 'circular filing cabinet'.
Don't ever pretend that your vote means a tinkers damn. The social wedge issues that seem to have ever more gasoline poured on them serve to distract us from the fact that a two party system only provides the illusion of choice. Neither party has shown any interest in addressing the base issues that affect the vast majority of American workers who live paycheck to paycheck. But don't blame me - I Voted for Kodos!
Corporate America is doing everything it can to rob this country blind and you cannot blame them - that is what Laissez-faire capitalism encourages. It is the government that is meant to step in and moderate the negative impact on the citizenry. However, since big business has co-opted this check on their power through their usage of lobbyists, we no longer live in a democracy.
Term limits would be a nice tool but since the people who have to approve such a change are the ones who it would hurt, it will never happen.
The attached infographic (from 2011) sums up my point rather succinctly -
And yes, this all belongs in the politics forum. Along with a lengthy examination of the 'Affordable Housing Bribery Scandal'.
Mea culpa Rob.