I agree with you. I mean consider 'single issue voters' as a perfect example of this failure of democracy. I consider my vote MUCH more thoughtfully than others

I agree with you. I mean consider 'single issue voters' as a perfect example of this failure of democracy. I consider my vote MUCH more thoughtfully than others, maybe that's bias... but in my defense I have a higher education, read many different news sources and discuss political issues with people who have contrarian viewpoints... if those things are worth nothing, then so be it. And yet objectively, my vote is worth exactly the same as someone who is voting only to keep gay marriage illegal, let's say. I don't know if the policical discourse changes much except for that thin sliver of 'moderates' and swing voters... as emphasized in elections of late. People do change their ideologies--I've seen it. But it's a minority.