<!-Quote-!>Quote:I sort of understand, powerful government can be alluring with all it's promises, but it always either fails to meet even minimal expectations or has serious caveats attached, because it's just rich people using the masses for personal gain. How many poor people have been members of congress? How can you expect the poor or middle class will have any sort of political power...because millionaires and their billionaire backers are looking out for them? And yet the faith in some sort of false messiah to come along and save them from their misery continues. All some people have to look forward to is hope. The same manipulation of complex emotions is used by religions as well as all other institutions of social control.<!-/Quote-!>
I agree with you on many points. But I would like you to elaborate on your "powerful government" point. What exactly do you mean? Which type of government comes to mind when you say "powerful government?"
You see, I would consider the Parliamentary Democracy which has evolved from the UK's Constitutional Monarcy to be a "powerful government" in comparison to the US system. At the same time, I do not see it as failing. Indeed - if you will forgive me - I see it as superior to the US system simply because it has several distinct advantages.
Firstly, it is simpler and more streamlined. The cuts down on costs by limiting beurocracy.
Secondly, there are more viable political parties. Whereas all we hear from the US is that either the Right (Democrats) or the far Right (Republicans) will win, we have three "major" parties on the Left (Liberal Democrats), Centre-Left (Labour) and Centre-Right (Conservatives) as well as the usual smattering of smaller entities, such as the Green Party, UKIP, Monster Raving Looney Party and the likes.
Thirdly, at the national level - where elections really matter - every vote is worth the same. A voter in Yorkshire holds no more power over the system than somebody from Lancashire or Cornwall.
Of course, the Queen still holds "absolute power" and she could just decide to do away with democracy entirely. Not that she would... I hear she's a Monster Raving Looney Party member.
Oh, and for those of you who have read all the way through to this point and now feel a sense of righteous indignation, go back and read it again, but add in a sarcastic tone from the second paragraph onwards this time.
It'll make far more sense. ^_^