I'm unconvinced that this system can be altered without violent revolution. The wealth disparities are greater now than any time since Vanderbilt built his cottage in the western North Carolinian mountains.
I remember reading an article some years ago about the moniker "white trash" as applied to people from the Appalachian mountains. The article contrasted that purgorative with the "n" word and pointed out that one difference was no one claimed the "white trash" moniker applied to them. It was a purgorative without an owner. No one wants to be identified as being that poor, backward, etc.
I think a similar phenomenon occurs in Murican life. Probably less than 1 in 1,000 who do so can build a logical case to "vote Republican". In our socio-political structure, Muricans want to pretend that policies benefitting the wealthiest of Americans also benefit them - they too want to win the lottery.
This psychology, unless changed fundamentally, will forever bar any real reform in government. The best we can hope for with such a self-deluded populace is almost imperceivable incremental change.
Perhaps when the great unwashed masses are hungry enough...
Cheers, er... not really,
Mikem