I am an aspy, that is, I have Asperger's Syndrome. It is a mild form autism that causes people to be very socially awkward but also (and I'm not saying this about myself), more intelligent than the average person. Normal people, who don't have autism or Asperger's are referred to in my circles as "N.T.'s", a neurological term that I believe is short for "normal transmitters". After observing Washington closely for the last 15 years, (I started closely watching when Clinton first took office), I have concluded that democracy cannot EVER work for the average person in a large country like the U. S.
The only people who will ever be elected to public office are N. T.'s, because you have to be socially competent to get elected. Socially challenged people, (like aspy's), don't win elections. So almost the entire Congress and the President will always be N. T.'s. Now, I realize that this next statement might anger some people, but it is my view. N. T.'s, once they are in charge, are not effective. The don't accomplish results. They take stock in "moral victories" even if the end result of their activity is not favorably resolved. For example, if the House of Representatives passes a good and meritous bill, and that bill then gets vetoed by the President or "fillibustered" in the Senate, it doesn't become law. It if doesn't become law, it has no effect. Yet, a typical N. T. would say, "Well, we fought the good fight, did what we were supposed to do, and it didn't work out, but we can feel good about..." etc. Aspy's don't do that. From an aspy's view, the bill either becomes law and has the intended effect, or you done nothing of consequence. We focus on results only, not "feelilngs".
But here's the thing, when "conservatives" and/or Republicans get to Washington, they end up PROCEEDING LIKE ASPYS, and Democrats don't. Elected members of both parties are N. T.'s (they couldn't have gotten elected if they weren't), but Republicans effectively become Aspys when they get to Washington. The reason for this is that the Republican Party is so completely controlled by corporate America that their actions are directed like a laser beam towards a specific mathematical objective: increasing the net profit figure on the corporations balance statment. When a person's actions are focused by a specifically and mathemically measurable goal, to the exclusion of all other considerations, they behave the way an Aspy behaves.
Democrats, while certainly influenced by corporate america, also have "ideas and beliefs" ect. that are priorities for them. But because they are N. T.'s and because those abstract "ideals and beliefs" are not mathematically calculable and dirceted in a precise way like the corporate net profit figures are, Democrats continue being what they are, N. T.'s. As a result, the "ideas and beliefs" that they have never actually happen. (universal health insurance is a good example of this).
I suspect that Karl Rove, for example, is an apsy. That is why he stayed mostly behind the scenes, calling the shots, while the N.T. 's (like Bush, etc.) took the public front while taking marching orders from Rove. The result was that, for 6 years, they were incredibly effective at implementing their evil agenda.
I don't see these realities changing. What do you think? ( I realize that most people who read this will be N. T.'s and I'm sorry if any of this offends, but this is my view)