[scotch_drinker]

It's not a zero sum game. You can both grouse about those things AND contribute at the grassroots or whatever level you choose. It's entirely consistent to express dismay at the system as a whole in response to an article like this and do things to actual effect change.

If we only took action and never groused publicly, man, HN would be a boring place.

[gyardley]

Like I said, patent reform has already passed with huge bipartisan support in the House of Representatives.

It's clear here that the problems aren't with 'American democracy' (or any other incredibly-broad and incredibly-hard-to-change system) but with a few ever-so-ejectable politicians. We can agree to disagree, but I believe that blaming the problem on structural issues encourages apathy and helplessness in a way that focusing on Reid does not.

[rosser]

And focusing on Reid lets the actual bad actors continue to get away with it. Reid is a symptom. Or do you honestly think that if Reid is voted out or loses his leadership post for this kind of behavior, the next guy won't step up, hands out in supplication to the very same special interests?

[AnimalMuppet]

If doing so costs Reid the next election, then his successor may well not obey those special interests.

[rosser]

...and said successor would find himself un-funded, and thus unable to run in the next election cycle. Being a congresscritter is expensive, and the state doesn't pay for it. That means incumbent or prospective legislators have to appeal to the very special interests to whom they're subsequently beholden to get the job in the first place. If you demonstrate that you're unwilling to do what they want, you won't get the money you need.

[Fando]

Agreed.