The biggest problem facing American politics today is voter apathy and disinterest. Low voter turnout isn’t news to anyone, and anything more than filling in a ballot is a lot to ask from even those Americans. According to the NES Guide to Public Opinion and Voting Behavior (http://www.umich.edu/~nes/nesguide/gd-index.htm#1), in 2004, just 21% of eligible voters displayed a bumper sticker or sign or even wore a button supporting a candidate. Further, only 13% gave money to a campaign; only 7% attended any type of political meeting, and just 3% volunteered or worked for a party or a candidate. Most Americans just don’t care enough. Those that vote are not usually accurately representative of those eligible to vote; historically, wealthy citizens are much more likely to vote than their poorer neighbors; likewise, older voters use their votes much more than younger citizens. Most minorities are much less likely to vote than whites and blacks, too. A government that is more and more disconnected from the populace becomes less and less responsive to the same.
There are many reasons for voter apathy and disinterest. One of them is a sense of powerlessness—what can one vote change?—that seems to be prevalent, especially in younger voters. Another is the complexity of issues before voters: though parties attempt to make them so, issues are rarely black and white. Few people have the time or interest to sift through the sound-bites and partisanship that’s the news to get down to brass tacks on things. The voting system is itself a problem; many lower-class citizens are paid hourly, and the time they must take off to stand in line for hours at some random fire station isn’t worth the cut in pay. And it feels American, exercising one's freedom not to participate. It’s doubtful, unfortunately, that any of that will change soon.