The Devil You Know

I've been wondering why the nation seems to be so divided between the two political ideologies that we are presented with (namely the Democrat and Republican parties). It seems to me that neither side is able to come up with the right answers for the majority of citizens.
The Republican Party is apparently ruled by religious fanatics or 'old boy' types who are corrupted by big business and self-interest, and consider those who disagree with them to be unpatriotic or communist.
The democrat party is apparently ruled by political game players corrupted by big business and self interest, and those who think that politically correct is the only correct way of things, who consider those who disagree with them to be hate mongers or fanatics.
I don’t know very many people who would subscribe completely to the precepts of either party (ok, maybe i know one or two from either side), nor anyone who’s happy with (or trusting of) any politician from either side. This makes me wonder if we, the voting public, are actually voting for who we actually want to vote for…or if we’re simply going with what we (as individuals) consider to be the lesser of evils?
just a thought