Good People in a Broken System: Why Political Parties Are Like Bad Bosses at a Really Shady Company

By D DeHaan

Alright, let’s start with a little optimism: Not all politicians are terrible. Yes, I know that’s a spicy take in 2024, but hear me out. Plenty of people get into politics with good intentions. They’re teachers, nurses, veterans, and activists who genuinely want to help their communities. They’re the kind of people who think, “You know what? I’m going to fix this broken system!”

And then… the system breaks them instead. Why? Because the problem isn’t the people—it’s the party machine. Imagine a bright-eyed intern walking into a corrupt company, ready to change the world, only to be handed a 200-page manual on “How To Keep Our CEO’s Yacht Fund Intact.” That’s essentially what happens when a well-meaning politician steps into the meat grinder of party politics.

The Party Machine: Good Intentions Meet a Bad System

Here’s the thing: Political parties, at their core, are like those weird multi-level marketing schemes your cousin is always trying to recruit you into. They don’t exist to make the world better—they exist to maintain power. Period. Full stop. End of story.

So, when a politician with actual principles shows up and says, “Hey, maybe we should fix healthcare or address climate change,” the party machine is like, “Whoa there, Gandhi. That’s adorable, but we have other priorities.” And by “other priorities,” they mean protecting the status quo and keeping their legacy power connections and billionaire buddies happy.

Here’s how it works: The moment you win your election and walk into the Capitol, the party hands you a script. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a requirement. “Here’s what you say, here’s how you vote, and here’s who you owe favors to.” And if you think, “Well, I’ll just ignore this and fight for my constituents,” you’ll quickly find out that the party has ways to make you fall in line.

The Tools of Subversion: How the Party Keeps You in Check

The party machine is like a mob boss in a cheap suit—it doesn’t have to kill you to send a message. It has more subtle ways of crushing your spirit, like:

1. Campaign Funds: Want to run for reelection? You’ll need money, and the party controls the purse strings. Step out of line, and suddenly your opponent has a much shinier campaign.

2. Committee Assignments: Want to work on meaningful legislation? Too bad. If you don’t toe the party line, they’ll stick you on the “Committee for Minor Issues No One Cares About.” Enjoy regulating fishery permits, champ!

3. Primary Challenges: Think you’re invincible because voters love you? Think again. The party will find someone else to run against you in the primaries—and they’ll throw all their resources behind that person.

It’s like being an employee at a shady company. You love your coworkers (your voters), but the boss (the party) is constantly threatening to fire you if you don’t sell enough overpriced essential oils to keep the pyramid scheme alive.

But What About the Billionaires?

Now, let’s talk about the shadowy figures behind the curtain: corporate donors and lobbyists. They’re like the guy at the office who doesn’t technically work there but still shows up to meetings and somehow gets everyone to do his bidding.

These are the people pouring money into political parties, expecting favors in return. Need a tax loophole for your oil company? Done. Want to block regulations that would stop your factory from dumping toxic waste into rivers? Say no more. Meanwhile, the poor politician who just wanted to fix potholes in their district is told, “Actually, we need you to vote for this bill that gives tax breaks to billionaires because reasons.”

And if that politician dares to say, “Wait a second, this isn’t what I signed up for,” the party basically responds with, “Oh, that’s cute. Now shut up and vote, or we’ll ruin your career.”

The Human Cost: When Good People Get Co-Opted

Here’s the saddest part: Many of these well-meaning politicians eventually give in. It’s not because they’re bad people—it’s because the system is designed to crush them.

Imagine being told, “If you don’t compromise on this one thing, we’ll lose the next election, and the other party will take control of Congress. Is that what you want? To let the bad guys win?” The pressure is relentless, and before long, even the most ethical person starts making compromises. “Just this one time,” they tell themselves. But then there’s always another time. And another. And another.

Before they know it, they’re no longer the change-maker they wanted to be. They’re just another cog in the machine, voting for bills they don’t believe in while telling themselves they’ll fight harder next time.

What This Means for the Rest of Us

So, what happens when political parties prioritize their donors and power over the people they’re supposed to serve? A lot of bad things, actually:

1. Stalled Progress: Issues like healthcare reform, climate action, and affordable housing get ignored because they threaten the status quo.

2. Cynicism: Voters see nothing changing and assume all politicians are corrupt. They’re not entirely wrong, but still.

3. Inequality: Corporate interests block any attempt to tax the wealthy, protect workers, or hold businesses accountable, leaving the rest of us to fight over scraps.

4. Endless Political Theater: Instead of solving real problems, parties distract us with cultural battles and performative outrage, like, “Oh no, Mr. Potato Head is gender-neutral now!” Meanwhile, billionaires are building rocket ships for fun.

How We Fix It

Fixing this mess isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. Here’s where we start:

1. Campaign Finance Reform: Get big money out of politics. Period.

2. Open Primaries: Let voters, not parties, decide who represents them.

3. Term Limits: Prevent politicians from becoming career lapdogs for the party machine.

4. Public Accountability: Demand transparency about party relationships with corporate donors and lobbyists.

But most importantly, we need to remember that good people do exist in politics. It’s not enough to elect them—we have to support them when they stand up to the machine. Otherwise, the system will keep eating them alive.

The Bottom Line

Here’s the ugly truth: Political parties don’t exist to serve us. They exist to serve themselves and their wealthy allies. That’s why even the best politicians—those with the purest intentions—get derailed. They’re not bad people. They’re just trapped in a bad system.

So, the next time you hear a politician say, “I wish I could do more, but my hands are tied,” don’t get mad at them. Get mad at the party. Get mad at the donors. Get mad at the system that prioritizes yachts over healthcare, tax breaks over schools, and corporate profits over the common good.

Because if we don’t fight back, we’re just letting the machine win. And frankly, I’m sick of letting the machine win. Aren’t you?