[Aerich]

Getting back to the subject of the original post, instead of engaging in partisan candidate-bashing...

Holders of political office are, in the democratic system, ultimately accountable, however imperfectly, to the electorate. Therefore, it is that electorate's job to be informed, take a stand, and exert public pressure to make these sorts of things an election issue. It is also the media's job to spotlight such issues with insightful commentary, and to keep the issues of abuse of power, corruption, and backroom dealing in the public's mind.

Here in Canada, the most powerful federal party of the 1990s was reduced to a wreck of its former self over the last two elections. Before that, the most powerful party of the 1980s fell flat for the same reasons, going from a strong majority to 2 seats. Citizen and media attention is what will bring down political arrogance, it just takes time and effort.

As for the judges, that's a bit more problematic. However, don't forget that governments have the right and the power to pass legislation that essentially overturns the rulings of judges - view the recent surge of state legislation around Eminent Domain, for example, or the New Deal federal legislation in the 1930s that overturned Lochner. Public sentiment can have an effect directly and indirectly in the judicial realm, too.

However, Nightwing, you do have a point. As long as people remain indifferent, governments and judges can pretty much do what they want. It's the nature of the beast.