Good points---but lets get to the root.
The elite is a small segment of the population (what is it--like the top 5% of the population?). Of course, they have the money and the power, but it really does not matter what small segment gets continiously elected---no small segment can possibly represent the whole population, and do what is in the best interest of the majority of the population. Any segment will always take care of themself first--that is why we have to be able to elect people from the whole population. The method of running and voting is greatly flawed, and it is not possible to elect people from the whole population.
Yes people are manipluated all over the world, not just here. But who is it you think will manipulate you first. The guy who got rich doing it, or your neighbor who is a sharp guy, but does not have the money to run for office, with a chance of winning? I know your gut tells you that you trust your neighbor, who faces the same challenges you do--more than some guy who does not even know that you don't grow that vegtable in that state (O-Bamma when he mentioned the rising cost of a piece of food I have never heard of to a crowd of farmers earlier this year while campaigning---yea--the crowd was silent)
When we change the way we vote and run for office, so the whole population is considered as viable candidates, and have a equal shot of winning---we will once again become the greatist country this world has ever seen (surpassing our last 150 or so years). We did it once and it lasted only about fifty years (the door was open for the corruption---we can shut that door)---we can do it again.