It all has to do with money. The people who have money are able to use the money to keep the money they have, and to get more money, with the help of our elected representatives, who need the money from the moneyed classes to get re-elected so that they can keep raising money. So if those who have the money are the ones who think that Sarah Palin is qualified to lead the Free World, and that "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" is a coherent foreign policy, well then our congresspeople will do whatever they say, and fuck anyone who isn't rolling in dough.

Meanwhile, we can't afford health care, or education, or environmental clean-up.

I'm beginning to think you were right about voting Green. At least for every election to Congress. The senators from my state, and my representative--all Democrats--are absolutely indistinguishable from Republicans. Blanche Lincoln has actually threatened to join a Republican filibuster against health care. Mike Ross has been Chief Obstructionist and Water Carrier for Big Pharma in the House of Representatives. I'll be goddammed if either of them will ever get a vote from me again.