Democracy a Sham?

Lately I've been thinking. How effective is our system for government? Corruption has plagued our government throughout it's existence, so could this "experiment" be fruitless? I'm beginning to doubt the power of our nation, as well as how hard our fall will be (what goes up, must come down). When the same family continues to rule over the people isn't that how kingdoms work? I disgust the fact that idiots would rather conform to a loosely held together party with shady goals than think for themselves. I find that giving control to the peons of the nation isn't always the best idea, but I do think the founders had the right idea with the electoral college. We've strayed too far from the guidelines implimented. The country was at it's best before political parties, and Washington knew that, so why don't any other Americans?