How can we make Congress, The President, and the rest of the government do what the people want?

I think that you have to look at the role of each and what the intended role was intended to be.

First, my favorite, Congress. It was intended to represent us, we vote for them based on our belief that they agreed with us. Once in office they are more or less free to follow their own beliefs and if we do not like what they do then we can toss them in the next election. 100 years ago that might have still worked, but once congress learned they could bribe us with our own money for re-election, the vote failed, and it has gotten worse with time. Congress is full of careerists who have no intention of representing us. Until we have term limits and remove the careerists we are doomed, it is that simple.

For the Pres, well sort of like Congress, we vote for them to "run" the country, like a CEO, and after four years if we do not like how they are running things we can vote them out, and should they get lucky and get re-elected we still are not harmed by them nearly as much as congress because they are term limited. Name one president beside FDR that has hurt our country long term?

And the President is not elected to represent us in the government and people need to get over that, he is elected to run the country.

That's only possible when you have a representative form of government. At the present time we have a oligarchy that somewhat represents the special interest groups of corporate America, rather than the voters per se! They do as they are instructed by the moneyed special interest groups of corporate America and the blackmailing groups of israel! All congressmen and US Senators receive campaign donations from the above mentioned factions, and most will deny ever receiving a penny from them! Don't vote for any of them, because they're all corrupt,especially the ones that have had more than one term in office. Why waste your precious vote on some one that worthless?

Unfortunately for you Congress does do what the people want, you just don't happen to agree with the majority of people in the country. Every election the people elect their reps just because your opinion doesn't match what the rest of the country thinks doesn't make Congress unresponsive.

Whenever there is a poll about Congress most people have a negative opinion of Congress as a whole, BUT they like their own Congressman! The reps in Congress have no obligation to represent you, they are obligated to represent their constituents.

Congressmen do what it takes to represent their district and get re-elected so don't expect a member from Iowa to vote the way a member from San Francisco votes.

Bait and switch. They say what you want to listen and then money talks or they do what they want.

If people keep voting for them as a default option then they get experienced in the bait and switch.

A 3rd or more parties would be one solution.

Have you ever been to DC and seen how the government operates. They do what they want. They have the power and we don't. I wouldn't expect them to change

Occasionally they will listen if we get pissed off about something and actually voice our opinion through contact with them. Social Security reform and amnesty. We need to do more of that.

be active in your opinions.. call your reps... get off your butts and vote.. look what happened with the amnesty bill that got shot down... the American people spoke up... and spoke up loud... that's what you do in a democracy.