Polls show that most people think that the government is run by special interest groups, not the people. Now there is lots of disagreement as to what special interest groups run the government, but I think they have rightfully figured out that the game is rigged. ( Queue Leonard Cohen's everybody knows)
There was a report by the Trilateral Commission, that explained that there was an "excess of democracy". These powerful people think the general public shouldn't be involved in the democracy. I think your friend is just a victim of the propaganda resulting from this.
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