Sadly, we must face the facts.
First, all politicians are bought and paid for. There are precious few Mr. Smiths going to Washington. There may be a representative or two in the House who's a Mr. Smith, but not in the Senate (they are too few, and wield too much power).
Second, Presidents are simply figureheads. They, like Congress, are beholden to power players off in the shadows (corporations and the like). Bush is no exception. If Kerry or Gore had been elected, then instead of Iraq or Halliburton, there'd be some other scandal.
Third, I don't think we really would want a large number of parties vying for power. Three is about the max you can have and still get anything done. If you disagree, look at Israel or Russia. They have so many political parties in office, they can't have an actual concessus on day-to-day issues, and are constantly running into gridlock and stalemates.
Fourth, ever since I can remember, anyone running for President always talks about what America, the middle class, or the poor "need," "want," "have to have," "are suffering from," etc. But every person running for President with even an outside chance of being elected is a millionaire. Ever ask yourself, how could a millionaire, who was either born into, married into, or made his millions decades ago, know or understand what the poor or middle class are going through today? And why would a millionaire care about any of us regular folk, what we need, want, have to have, or even what we have to say or think about things? Remember Bush Sr. being so amazed by the technology behind a commonplace grocery checkout scanner?
Fifth, your vote in a Presidential election doesn't mean as much as you think. Remember, it isn't the POPULAR vote that elects presidents, but the electoral college. Otherwise, Bush would not have gotten in there in 2000.
Sixth, politicians are like actors. They take on a persona, a role. They play a part. These guys are so polished, practiced, and robotic these days, you can't tell what one truly beleives or what they don't. Like actors, they all have techniques and tricks to give a performance. Politicians on BOTH sides use exactly the same gimmicks and techniques to diss their opponent. They're as transparent as glass, but people really buy the guff they spout as if it were gospel.
Seventh, until we get the money out of politics, our woes will never, ever, change. Is it any wonder that so many lawyers, businessmen, and the like go into politics? They make the laws that govern their own professions. The sad fact is, we have the fox guarding the henhouse.
Eighth, rhetoric is always a stand-in for action with these clowns. People angry about Iraq? Simple! Let's raise an emotional, hot-button topic, like illegal immigration. A serious topic, no doubt, but a diversionary and divisive topic to raise just now. People mad about the economy? Hey, let's talk about flag-burning. People mad about some scandal? Talk about tax cuts. You get the idea.
I could go on and on, but there's no point. People are sheep, and will vote whichever way they're told by whoever controls the outlets of information. I don't think there is any such a thing as an honest politician, and sadly, if there ever was one, I don't think there ever will be again.
Reversing the polarity of neutron flow since 1976!