You can start a campaign. They can bring about change, in the long run. If a think tank was campaigning for something you didn't like, I bet you'd be first to complain about it...
Of course, for all of that you need money, and quite a lot of money, and where are you going to get it in such large amounts? Eh, I dunno, I am not a politician myself and lobbying and corporate donations probably have nothing to do with that.
From others who support your campaign.
Yeah, it does suck that money == power.
IMO representative democracy isn't a problem, but corporate lobbying is.
You can start a campaign. They can bring about change, in the long run. If a think tank was campaigning for something you didn't like, I bet you'd be first to complain about it...