We do have a say, technically, with our right to vote. But as long as most people either don't vote or only vote for the two corrupt major parties, it makes no difference. We will only begin to have a say if most of us eligible to vote, dump both major parties and elect a president and congress that are not from the major parties. And even then, if that happened, I fear that the ruling class would then use the military to institute a crackdown and install a dictatorship that would serve the rich and corporations. But until then, we may as well get to it and try throwing out the two major parties and have the civil war that would probably be needed to get our country back, rather than continuing on with this charade of democracy...

We as taxpayers have a decided say in how money is spent. We elect people who say they will vote in a particular fashion. Of course some (maybe many) don't keep promises. Howver voters keep reelecting peope over and over. Who's fault s that?

@Alienbeing Voters are responsible for who they vote for but you can't always blame voters for electing wrong politicians. Voters initially have so much trust in the politicians they vote for (or rather the political parties instead of individual political candidates in the UK), because they promise that they will do their best to serve the nation and make their country a better place, only to realise that they don't keep their promises and they keep failing their constituents.
Incidentaly, in the UK, if they cannot decide which political party to elect, they can 'spoil' their votes by, say, drawing scribbles on their ballot papers. Their spoiled votes still count.

@TomMcGiverin I've come across a few Americans who seem to think that another civil war is inevitable to sort out your country, and now you as well. Do you seriously feel that desperate? I don't live in America, so...

@Ryo1 My point was that voters continually REelect politicians after they know the politician did not perform. Hence that is the voters fault.

@Ryo1 Anyone within, or outside the United States who seriously thinks another Civil War is possible know virtually nothing about Federal military and State Militias (now called the National Guard).

Additionally we Americans have such a short political memory that it would be impossible to gather any great nuber of people to even try.

@Ryo1 I really do feel that desperate, tho I could well be wrong. Instead, it may end up being a situation where the country splits in two over its laws and policies, without physically separating into two countries, because they want to continue sharing a military for national defense, and to also share regulation and operation of natural resources and national parks. Like a couple that splits but continues to live together.

What did Dwight Eisenhower, a revered and esteemed Republican, warn toward the end of his years in office?

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”
— Dwight D Eisenhower

@p-nullifidian And since then, both parties sold out to the MIC, while the corporate media cooperates in making it taboo to discuss what Ike said at all.