One may wish to take a course on political science if they think lobbyist and other "influence-rs" of the politicians don't run the show and reap the true benefits of democracy over that of the common people. It is rather naive to think that our system is pure as the driven snow in that regard.

Money talks and bullshit walks as they say.

The only reason incumbents in congress have high re-election rates (at least in the House/ not so much so in the Senate) is the money they receive from the big backers who like maintaining the corporate sided slant of the status qoe gives them a huge advantage.

The corporations and their lobbyists and the politicians all know this even making election rules that favor them.

As for the one donation one vote thing...please! A 500 thousand dollar donation buys omg way more air time in the media and hires large amounts of pr people to put up signs/ make phone calls/ add voice and sway voters than the tiny 100 dollar one ever could.

Who does the candidate listen too once in office?

The small time individual or the big money backers who literally put him in office?