The main issue with American politics is that some representatives think that their ignorance is as good as reasoned opinion. I'm in no way championing direct

The main issue with American politics is that some representatives think that their ignorance is as good as reasoned opinion. I'm in no way championing direct democracy - I think we agree pretty much about how representative democracy is supposed to work and how voters are supposed to vote. Where we differ is that I think transparency is essential to any functioning democracy. As you say, voters don't have the time or inclination to inform themselves properly about the issues at hand. But instead America has a system where most politicians don't bother to actually form well thought through opinions either, but rather rely on the opinions of the people that fills their campaign coffins. Allowing them to do that in complete secrecy would be the same as giving the power directly to the oil companies and military industrial complex.