The Amercian public has lost control and nothing can be done. You can see it everywhere. We no longer vote for best candidate because there is no best candidate, we have forced ourselves into voting for the lesser of 2 evils. The judges have the ability to "interpret" the law, and no longer have to enforce it. We have no recourse either way. If we don't like what a politican does, we can vote for another but chances are we don't like the other one even more or the other one will do worse. With the judges, we have no option but to appeal and nothing gets done to a judge unless the are involved in criminal activity. The government simply does not care about what you and I think or want, they are on their own agendas.
John referred to statemen, there are very few left they are mostly politicians. Our government and judicial system have the ability to determine what is open to interpretation and what is the letter of the law, and that changes from system to system depending on the agenda and financial needs. Why do you think in Knoxville the city police are patroling the interstate instead of busting hookers and drug dealers on Central Ave or Magnolia? The upper management for police dept realize that speeding tickets generate revenue, but the hookers and drug dealers don't. Everywhere else I have been the highway patrol is responsible for the interstate. Don't get me wrong I have the highest respect for our law enforcement, I realize that it is not the ones on patrol making these decisions it is the "upper echelon".
This is not a modern day problem, this has been building for many years. The problem, as I see it, is the Americans in general have become way too complacent.