They're convoluted so that the capitalist class can more easily rig them. Things like the electoral college, gerrymandering, loose campaign finance laws, 2 party system, etc. are the way they are so the people in power can stay in power, while at the same time still claiming it is "democracy" because they are still technically following the rules. And it was pretty much like this from the beginning. The US was never about freedom, except for white males who own property.