>> What separates them is the opportunity Exactly. In the current system, a candidate requires substantial funding in order to run. Who has that kind of money

>> What separates them is the opportunity Exactly. In the current system, a candidate requires substantial funding in order to run. Who has that kind of money to spend on politics? Big corporations! What sort of people would these corporations want in government? The most valuable trait in a politician from the perspective of a big corporate donor is corruptibility (their eagerness to cater to the needs of big financial interests). They are literally put forward on that basis. If the selection process was random, then political candidates would only be as corrupt as the average person; which would not be too bad.