The problem with our political system appears to start with our educational system. It is run by people who have never existed outside the halls of academia, It is a scenario where the inmates are running the asylum, Having never been required to produce a product, or service, that would stand the pressures of a free market economy, they have an unrealistic understanding of how the real world works. Since socialism seems to work so well as a theory, how could it possibly fail in reality?? It fails because, normal people will not expend effort towards a collective good, when other who expend less effort will receive the same reward. That, and for some people, the ability to force one's will upon others is as addictive as cocaine or heroin. Why else would someone spend $30,000,000 to get a job paying a 6 figure income, and will only last 8 years.