Is there a problem with democracy?

I read an article yesterday about how the youth in so many countries are disillusioned with democracy now. Basically, they feel that the politicians are corrupt and work for the banks and other corporations, rather than the people who vote them into office. I admit, I've been feeling this way myself for quite a while now. Some of the remarks being made in the article mention how even in countries that had dictators, they are no longer happy with the democratic method. Their parents say they are happy to be able to vote, but the youth see past this to the new issues that exist.

There is a tone in the article that suggest trying to come up with another option to democracy all together. "Increasingly, citizens of all ages, but particularly the young, are rejecting conventional structures like parties and trade unions in favor of a less hierarchical, more participatory system modeled in many ways on the culture of the Web."

I love this creative thinking and can hardly wait to see what comes out of it. Unfortunately, I feel that America may become the last dinosaur of democracy. I say unfortunately, because I foresee things having to get a lot worse, before enough Americans are willing to make the radical changes necessary. We could of course, try things like opening up our democracy to more than just the two party system we have now. But I just don't see it happening soon enough. But maybe we need to hit bottom, so that we are willing to make real changes in the long run, and not just settle for half way measures that are still susceptible to corruption.

Does this matter?

Wall Street Protest

So, I just read an article about the protestors on Wall Street, and then read some of the remarks. There seemed to be a huge disconnect. I'll start with the remarks, which seemed to focus primarily on the idea that the protestors were against the rich, and that they believed that everyone on Wall Street is rich. That's not what I get out of reading about the protestors. From what I can gather, and this may be because it's more like how I feel, the protestors are fed up with things like bailouts, and corporate loopholes that allow them to corrupt our democracy, and damage the environment. They're fed up with the people who are causing the problems not only getting away with it, but getting rescued by our tax dollars. Many of them getting rewarded for doing a good job through bonuses, after we had to bail them out.

As the people in the remarks said, the average worker on Wall Street, isn't rich, and worked hard to get where they are. But Wall Street itself, unfortunately, is a symbol of many of the problems with our government and politics. All of our democrats and republicans are owned by big business, with the exception of a very few. (That's why I support the Green Party. But I do feel that Ron Paul is an exception and our best choice, and chance for a good president.) So I feel the protestors got it right. They picked probably the best symbol for what they think is wrong with this country, and it's unfortunate that many can't even slightly understand what it is they are protesting. Makes me wonder if they even looked into it before they made their remarks. And, it made them look ignorant, in my opinion.

Is this important, or just extremist being extreme?