WOW Rachel... pretty interesting. I think Americans should make a common website, one which is known all throughout the US which citizens post with pictures the facts of what is going on in each community. It would bring your Government in line quite quickly.... people have more power than you think, especially when outside countries see even more issues and instability within the US, means the more money they pull out of the country, which means the US as a country then have to cleanup their act to get money and wealth back from the world flowing through their country.

There is one method to remove a lot of corruption immediately from the US Government. Remove the ability for all politicians to solicit campaign funds, instead making every politician campaign on a limited budget provided by the Government and they are all equal. Once in office they owe nobody anything for helping them get there. A politician cannot be honest if they are corrupt and "owe" something before they even get into power.

Thinking about it.... the best way I could ever recommend to the US to fix its problem for longevity, would be to remove this from politicians and control campaigning period. It stops the commercialised corruption that controls politicians to provide favours over doing what is right by the local communities. If all local communities are being majority pushed and coaxed by the public of that community, then the country as a whole by the time politics reaches the top makes it extremely accountable, because all those local politicians ultimate aim is more often than not to reach a top position of power. That means they will bring down any and all corruption known above them to get power, the salary they so want. Australia works something like this, along with many other countries, though obviously all countries are quite unique in their political structure which is what makes each country unique, though I guess I am saying there are certain methods you could use in any political structure to ensure honesty the majority of the time.