I think the best comment on this I've heard came from Milton Friedman. Paraphrasing, he said: "Politicians will do whatever they have to do to get re-elected.

I think the best comment on this I've heard came from Milton Friedman. Paraphrasing, he said: "Politicians will do whatever they have to do to get re-elected. Everyone thinks if we just elect the right people, we'll have change. If you want change, don't worry about electing the right people. Just make it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right things". Now, save for someone being bribed outright by a lobbyist, I think this is the context we need to work within.