Two things came together for me that make me think we're swinging in a weird direction - actually it's very much in keeping with my belief that we're headed back to a system of EconoGovernment that was all the rage in the 18th century. Everything is owned by a relatively few rich families, and everybody else has to suck up to the power and fight over the crumbs.
First, in January, the Roberts court affirmed the Rights Of Monied Interests in the Citizens United decision. Now with the primary win of Sharron Angle in Nevada, where most of her support came from out-of-state AstroTurf organizations, we get a look at what happens when we apply Efficient Markets principles to the election of our delegations to Congress. Suddenly, Dick Armey can raise lots of money and spend it any way and anywhere he wants to make it more probable that we "elect" somebody who'll be sympathetic to the interests of his clients - whoever the fuck they happen to be; while the opinions of people who actually live and sweat and bleed and die as citizens of Nevada are reduced in proportion.
Another side of this is the fact that "Big Union" contributed mightily to an attempt to beat Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas - the attempt failed, but it was way close for a while. As the forces get more organized, and experienced, we can expect to see more elections being manipulated by remote control.
So here's the payoff: Welcome to the era of Representation Without Taxation.
BTW) this fits nicely with the way politicians use a selling technique known as the Turn Around. Repubs, at least most blatantly, are the main offenders. You have only to consider Palin's recent attempted Turn Around: The BP spill happened because the treehuggers forced Big Oil to drill farther offshore. It's lame and crude and clumsy, but guess what - the rubes eat that shit up.
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