John Edwards' central claim to the Democratic nomination is that he alone recognizes the key issue at hand: the pervasive corruption of the system of government instituted by the founders. He has in mind a very specific form of corruption, and one that requires a radical fix.

Moneyed interests have altered the constitutional system established by the founders, such that elected officials no longer represent the public interest but only the interests of a privileged faction.

The solution requires radical systemic reform. But it seems to me that John Edwards falls short of his own standard.