Interesting article on Socialism today.
This is why we are where we are.

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0507/0507commonism.htm
Dawn of the era of common-ism

By Tom DeWeese
web posted May 21, 2007

The lines used to be so clear. On one side were free markets, free societies and openly elected representative governments, normally defined as democracy. On the other, was the force of totalitarianism choking off individual initiative, private ownership of property, cynically providing a ballot box with but one choice, normally defined as Communism. In the end, the "Evil Empire" disintegrated under the weight of its own ignorance of human nature. Or did it?

Conservatives hailed the victory, dispatching Communism to the "ash-heap of history." Many Conservative leaders have put forth the idea that we are living in a "Conservative era," using as proof the Republican takeover of Congress and the worldwide movement toward democracy and free trade. The demise of Communism, some say, now allows a spirit of cooperation among nations that will bring on the benefits of worldwide prosperity and a universal increase in the standard of living.

Yet many Americans are concerned that the same leaders who proclaim American ideals are spreading across the globe have failed to protect constitutionally guaranteed liberties here at home. The assaults on property rights and personal privacy along with the transformation of local schools under federal programs, and above all, the seeming lack of concern for national sovereignty and protection of the nation's borders are the obvious contradictions to the proposition that Conservative ideas now reign supreme.

Other goals seem to be taking center stage. The rule of law in our Republic, designed to insure individual rights from intrusive government, is being replaced by a new ideology; one that tends to allow the concerns of interest groups to supersede the inherent rights of the individual. Further, the interests of the United States of America now seem to take a back seat to something called the "Global Commons." National identities and individual religions appear to be morphing into non-descript and indistinguishable arrangements to some unidentified whole. Science has been reduced to little more than a convenient political tool to promote agendas. Self-determination is being replaced with group-think.

~Snip~ Read rest of article on link

Even though we have a two party system, is there really any difference in the two?

The original concept was the average citizen could run for office, how true is that today?

Regardless of who is elected to office, the same people manage and educate them once they arrive. In the long run are they any more effective than Queen Elizabeth II in directing policy?

Before anyone running for office in this country makes it to their first campaign appearance all individual thoughts are purged by their handlers.

How many government officials would have proposed a Smoking Ban on their own initiative?

How many elected officials have any control of appointed or career government employees?

Who elected anyone within Health, Education, or Welfare departments of government?