thoughtful question Azrael...

I think the first thing that they need to do is get the money out of politics. Just like there's no room for religion in politics there should be no PAC's and fat salaries for politicians, and no fundraising 364 days a year and legislating 1.

There should be term limits... the idea that this will remove all the "valuable" people from office is BUNK. There are a LOT of qualified individuals who can and would fill those posts BETTER than the "lifers" that currently occupy them. The origonal concept of our government was that legislaters would NOT be life members but would have a full and seperate careere, they'd serve the nation for a few years... then GO BACK to that seperate life.

I don't think it's hopeless, but sad to say the politicians are the only ones who can fix it... and it's not exactly in their best interest to do so.