[amelius]

Another question I'd like to add to your list: why are the current presidential elections such an incredible mess?

The answer to all these questions could be that democracy has stopped working.

[XparXnoiAx]

Democracy works as well as the voters.

It hasn't stopped working, for an example close-to-home, look at the corruption in SF, that has been there for over a century. As long as voters don't pay attention, we'll have lousy government. Voters are the watchdogs.

[witty_username]

I think it's because of the flaws in the Electoral College (search about it).

Also, only few voters vote in the party primaries.