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Originally Posted by larrymcg421
But don't they also represent a big problem in how we (the voters) act? I mean, you're kidding yourself if you don't think the politician that brings home the bacon doesn't have a major edge on that politican who refuses everything for their district.
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I think you are right on that. We act like idiotic children. Loving the pork while decrying it.
However, it still has a corrupting influence and, along with gerrymandering is the key to incumbancy protection (compounded by the fact that earmarks get done with greater frequency the more seniority you have... its a perk to be able to be kept in your seat for longer).
Just because the people reward corruption doesn't necessarily mean we should just leave it alone. We have institutions that are not fully democratic because we realize the people can be idiots (hence why Senators have 6 year terms).
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It's going to be hard to hold politicans accountable unless we change our own behavior as well.
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We get the government we deserve?
Even then, on some issues, we should protect the people from their own destructive impulses (or rather, in simpler, more cliche terms "republic, not a democracy").