I understand completely. But many public officials are there because they believe strongly in something. At the local level at least, in Iowa at least, there is a lot of good-will and honest intent.
My sympathy to the system is probably inversely proportional to the scale at which it operates. I've also noticed that at local levels you tend to have greater amount of honest people who believe in something and are willing to push for the ideas based on merit. I think a big part of it is that they have a much bigger personal connection with the issues and the citizens. Such people have my utmost respect.
