Well said. But until we return to an era of philosopher/policy makers you need not worry about national enlightenment emanating from from those who are successful at winning elections.
Quote from OPTIONAL777:
I am not supporting bigger government, I support a government where people have an incentive to improve America.
I don't see that the corrupt system of capitalism cared about improving America, and I don't see a corrupt socialist system improving America either.
I envision a society that requires each person to take the blame for the ills of society, to stop blaming the government, to have public servants who are required to perform their duty or be fired, etc.
Any system works when the individual components take personal responsibility and pride in their job and stay away from the corrupting influences that both unregulated capitalism and lazy do noting bureaucrats in a socialist system.
It is not the system of capitalism or socialism or any other ism that needs to be addressed. The problem is in the hearts and minds of Americans who are themselves corrupt and have gone astray from personal responsibility, pride in their job, seeing themselves as Americans before party and dogma, etc.
We need better Americans to have a better America, and that is an inside job.
Individuality is an inside job, a spiritual job. The government doesn't make people corrupt, selfish, greedy, unconcerned for others in society.
The utopia begins in the heart and mind first, and then any system works.
A decision of what values we as a society want to embrace comes first. There was a time when greed was considered sinful in America, not virtuous.
There was a time when lying and cheating were not seen as something to do simply because you got away with it.
We are so far off track internally, that it really doesn't matter what form of government we have right now...the people who are in or out of government are fully to blame for our problems, and each member of society is either part of that problem, or they become part of the solution.