One of the big benefits of a republican (small "R", not the party) form of government is that it's far more difficult to buy off because at conventions each delegate (which are generally grass-roots involved people who have no financial incentive) has the same influence regardless of which candidate has the most money.

The problem is fundamental to the structure and it is inevitable that, over time, every government becomes tyrannical.

Thomas Jefferson made it clear for the ages, "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Governments are of man and man is prone to taking advantage of and abusing his or her peers.

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. I am not a friend to a very energetic government."

- Thomas Jefferson

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."

Ideally,

> the people

I think the "people -> government" relationship is broken in the US and I'm not sure whether all the "blood of patriots and tyrants" talk helps or hurts that.

Quoting Jefferson isn't a call to action, but a call to remember those words, the context and the inspiration. It's insightful to remember that Jefferson was the founder of a third-party known as the Democratic-Republicans.

As much as people think the world is different, the difference is really only technologically. Instead of stealing horses, people steal cars. Instead of bootlegging liquor, people run marijuana.

Instead of slave masters, we have human resources.

But it sure makes you sound like a man of action!

Two political Sects have arisen within the U.S. the one believing that the executive is the branch of our government which the most needs support; the other that like the analogous branch in the English Government, it is already too strong for the republican parts of the Constitution; and therefore in equivocal cases they incline to the legislative powers: the former of these are called federalists, sometimes aristocrats or monocrats, and sometimes tories, after the corresponding sect in the English Government of exactly the same definition: the latter are stiled republicans, whigs, jacobins, anarchists, disorganizers, etc. these terms are in familiar use with most persons."

- Jefferson in 1798 - you'll note that he was arguing that the republicans of his day were insufficiently democratic, rather than the other way round.

As much as people think the world is different, the difference is really only technologically. Instead of stealing horses, people steal cars. Instead of bootlegging liquor, people run marijuana. Instead of slave masters, we have human resources.

Well, there's a slight qualitative difference in that if you quit your job, HR can't come after you and compel you stay in it. Your creditors may sue you for everything short of the shirt off your back, but you can't be forced into servitude.