Rick, you're setting yourself up for a loss by distinguishing between "soot'n'ties" and everybody else. In the U. S., each of us has one vote, whether we wear jeans or a suit (well, actually, because of the way the Electoral College is set up, those of us in Vermont or Wyoming effectively have more voting power apiece, in the Presidential election, than people in the big states, but I'm not complaining).The "soot'n'ties" have the power because the average person votes for the person he sees on television the most. TV time costs money. So the guy with the most money wins.
But it's by the people's choice that it works that way.
If you want to change it, start demanding that each candidate state his position on the issues, without equivocating. Then vote for the one whose positions you approve of the most. Whether he has the most, and most flashy, TV ads or not.
If you can't stand any of them, start your own political party and run for office. (I should have done just that in the last US Presidential election, but there was a Libertarian candidate, thank Gawd.)
Sermon mode off.
Peter.