You hit all the nails on the heads and I think it's partly age related!
I, like you, have listened to the promises on top of promises on top of blah, blah, blah that tell us how if only the government had more money, our representatives could and would do more for us. It never happens, because they never get enough money and they conveniently forget the promises along the way.
Decade after decade in my life, I have watched as Big Money continues to be served and the vast majority of U.S. citizens are told to be brave and tough because there just isn't enough money to go around and, guess what, we need to tighten our belts because congress is doing all it can!
It's disgusting and sickening all at once.
We, the people, in order to form a more useful government should demand:
A flat income tax for everyone
Term limits
No bills passed through congress of more than 20 pages
No freezing or lowering of benefits for the vast majority unless every government employee (including congress and the president) get the same medicine.
