[ZenGum]

The only thing I am doubtful about here is that you seem to think this is something new. The USA gave the world the word Gerrymander, but if you analyse the power structure in the "democratic" phase of ancient Rome, it was equally corrupted by the influence of the rich and already-powerful. The same can be said for English democracy for most of it's history.

At times, and in places, there is improvement.

A free and critical media and an alert citizenry are the only factor that works against this corruption. The rights to vote, to access information, and to publish information and opinion critical of the powers-that-be are crucial.

Hence the struggle for the media. Having the right to publish is unimportant if the editor doesn't want to publish.