The ideal govenment that Thoreau imagined below is unlikely to happen until man evolves a better brain.  My great hope for the future is evolution.

From Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”, http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html

Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government?  Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man?  There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independant power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.  I please myself with imagining a State at least which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose if a few were to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellow-men.  A State which bore this kind of fruit, and suffered it to drop off as fast as it ripened, would prepare the way for a still more perfect and glorious State, which also I have imagined, but not yet anywhere seen.

Political link:

By far the best, less bias site I have found for keeping on top of where the candidates stand on issues is On The Issues,  http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm .

They have direct quotes from each candidate with links back to where they said it.

There is also a Vote Match Quiz where you indicate your view on an issue, then see what percentage of the time each candidate agrees with you.