You might be interested in the phrase "realpolitik". The phrase comes from Germany in the mid-1800s. "Realpolitik" refers to politics as they actually occur, as opposed to the idealized interpretation you were taught in middle school, for example.
America has never in its history operated according to the ideal. It's just easier to become informed in America in 2013 than it was 150 years ago, so the discrepancies between the ideal and the realpolitik are more obvious.
I guess this boils down to whether you find manipulating the realpolitik to be more or less effective than trying to eliminate it.
America has never in its history operated according to the ideal. It's just easier to become informed in America in 2013 than it was 150 years ago, so the discrepancies between the ideal and the realpolitik are more obvious.
I guess this boils down to whether you find manipulating the realpolitik to be more or less effective than trying to eliminate it.