Democracy is first.

While in the short term, we must continue to deal with the concept of electing decision-makers, what we must really start to do, if we want to end the pattern of politics for interests other than that of the people, is to begin a campaign to democratize America.  We need to change the role of Congress to that of a national committee that will narrow down the focus of topics in the national debate, but which will only be able to recommend bills to the American people for referendum.  Furthermore, we should require that each member of Congress host a number of town hall meetings throughout his/her constituency, as well as set up blogs and call-in lines so that the people will have avenues to propose ideas into the national debate.  In order to ensure that Congress brings the peoples' ideas into the debate and votes in the interests of their various constituents, there should also be a clearly defined and accessible means for constituents to recall their elected representatives.  Then, and only then, can we know and ensure that our government shall be working in the interests of the people, because the people shall truly be the government.

Scott, I agree that recall is an aid to making Congress accountable.   However, I  think we have more democracy than we are using.  All voters are not yet participating  and many are uninformed.

We can improve on  the system we have by selecting politicians with integrity and holding them accountable thru Elections and Recalls.  Unfortuantely, uninformed voters  can be stampeded by propaganda into unwise recalls, by a small minority.  Two year election cycles offers a responsive time frame to make Congress accountable.

Wars are seldom in America's Interest.  Eisenhower in his Farewell Address warned against a Military Industrial Complex,  which profits from Wars, at the expense of America.  Americans should put  America's Interest First    and beware of foreign entanglements!