The U.S. has parties and elections. But policies are worked out by corporate interests, sold through misleading media rhetoric, and popular opposition is dismissed as emotional reaction. The esteem of government and elected officials looms ever lower on the horizon, nearly ready to set into a sea of total disgust. When the match is over, the establishment gets back to its un-discussed agendas. Because there are no substantive issues raised in the campaign, the rhetoric fades into memory.
Reform is like clear-cutting.
A forest is an ecosystem, with wildlife, streams, underbrush, etc. Genuine reform would take into account the existing conditions, and if a change is needed, would make incremental changes over time, evolving a working system toward sounder functioning. Just like in a cartoon, where the character is always drawn with exaggerated features.