The trouble with democracy

Those of us who live in democracies are lucky. Or at least we're told we are. And we think we are.
And, in fairness, we probably are.
But while I can't think of a better system, I sometimes wonder if we're fooling ourselves when we think that, once we elected our leaders, everything is ok.
In the United States now, for example, George W Bush is clearly acting against the wishes of the vast majority of the people of the country by continuing to pursue the war in Iraq.
In Britain, the Labour Party - and, indeed, the Conservatives - is breathing a sigh of relief after it was decided that nobody would be prosecuted in the Cash for Honours controversy despite it being abundantly clear, that honours were sold for cash. So much for being judged by a jury of your peers!
Here in Ireland, our Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern will shortly face questions over his personal finances.
He has already admitted receiving money as a 'dig-out' from friends when he was going through a separation from his then wife.
But there are unaswered questions about amounts and dates. And indeed, why he thought it prudent not to have a bank account while he was going through a legal separation.
Already, we know that Irish politics in the recent past was corrupt. The late Taoiseach Charles Haughey epitomised that corruption.
But few have gone to jail.
Italy is asking many questions about the integrity of its leaders. So it France.
And we don't have to look very far south of Europe to see the wanton corruption in Africa, much of it in so-called democratic countries.
Surely, in a democracy, corrupt politicians shouldn't be elected and certainly shouldn't be re-elected.
In fact, it seems odd, that politicians about whose integrity there is a single question, can still manage to win the popular vote.
Again, here in Ireland, we have elected two members of our Dail (parliament) about whom there are serious questions.
Beverley Flynn was deemed by our Supreme Court to have been involved in persuading people to invest in tax evasion schemes when she worked in a bank.
And MIchael Lowry faced serious questions over gifts he had received from a prominent businessman.
Both had no trouble winning their seats.
And both have done deals with the Taoiseach to help keep his government in power.
Oh, there are a few letters to the Irish Times about it.
And some political writers are asking a few questions.
But in general, people just seem to accept it.
Didn't the United States accept George W Bush's first presidential election win despite it looking extremely ropey?
One Irish politician went to jail for corruption. (One other was jailed three times for contempt of court in relation to questions about corruption.)
But the dogs in the street are barking about corrupt local representatives the length and breadth of the country, over the years, in relation to questionable planning permissions.
But nobody seems to care.
In virtually every democracy, it seems, lucrative contracts go to friends of those in power and to businesses which contribute to the parties of those in power.
And we all bury our heads in the sand and just ignore it.
The reason why, is obvious.
The solution is not.
The reason we put up with it all, the reason we don't have a choice BUT to put up with it all, is the electoral process itself.
We can only vote for those presented to us by the political parties.
And if they are members of powerful political parties, the likelihood is, they will toe the line.
Mavericks rarely make the breakthrough.
And so it will go on for ever and ever.
Here in Ireland, more than one third of all our members of parliament are related, in some way, to other members of parliament or previous members of parliament or deceased members of parliament.
It's self perpetuating.
And the sad thing is, neither I, nor anyone else, can think of a better system.