In 2000, at the first U.N. millennium meeting in Tokyo, Gallup presented interesting results of a global public opinion survey. Most people, even in the mature Western democracies, believed their government was failing to represent them — refusing to heed their voices, looking after their own and corporate interests rather than defending the common interest of the citizens collectively.
The Anna Hazare movement against rampant public corruption in India this year tapped into a widely-shared sense of disenchantment with most state and federal governments. Millions of Indians have concluded sadly that their politicians are interested essentially in three things: cash from the wealthy to fight elections; votes from the poor to win elections; and feathering their own nest in between elections.
In Greece, streets are aflame once again as people believe the government listens more to foreign financial interests.