The ONLY reason the US is not bankrupt is because they can print money ... and nobody pays attention.
Ref: corporations - whatever influence they may have is irrelevant, corporations don't vote. It is up to voters to be informed and exercise their vote responsibly. But if voters drool over curly hair or celebrity fluff or "free" whatever whose fault is that ?!
The matter of exercising our democratic responsibilities - or mostly not - I consider a major failing of our education system. Kids graduate without a clue about how our financial/business systems operate, who pays for what, the structure of government budgets. Discovery Math and academic incest rule ...
Any politician who promises "free" whatever should be laughed at - not voted for !