"Most Americans, at least those that vote, seem incapable of understanding that the Democrats and Republicans are two teams in the same league, serving the same cabal running the corporatist plutocracy. By keeping people focused on rooting for one team or the other, the behind-the-scenes rulers ensure their invisibility and power. Individual politicians on both teams can only rise to power by being loyal to their respective parties.
The genius of the plutocrats is to create the illusion of important differences between the two parties, and the illusion of meaningful political choice in elections. In truth, the partner parties compete superficially and dishonestly to entertain the electorate, to maintain the aura of a democracy. Differences are mostly for campaigns, while each party serves the rulers when in office. Illusion creates the delusion of Americans that voting in elections will deliver political reforms, despite a long history of politicians lying in campaigns about reforms, new directions, and bold new policies.
Like a law of physics, the rulers need power shifting between the teams to maintain popular trust in the political system. Voting manifests that trust, as if changing people will fix the system. It does not work. It is like rearranging the proverbial chairs on the Titanic. American democracy keeps sinking.
http://www.swans.com/library/art13/joelh02.html