A little harsh on the people of the U.S. of A. aren't we? Granted, people seem to follow the latest headlines or "pop" issues as if they themselves are experts on the subjects (blogs being great evidence of this), but are they really at fault for how poorly aware they are of the real issues? Personally, I'd be more apt to point the blame at the massive media conglomerates that pipe in the "news" to the American people. What is quite odd to me, is that in the face of many protestors and public voices criticizing big media's inattentiveness to issues of primary concern, the media has on the whole remained the same.

At the core of this problem, as I see it, is the issue of transparency. Our government is highly centralized, skilled at the art of secrecy, and layered so deeply with bureacracy that it makes an onion jealous. Where's the real trickle down of information to the public? In a representative democracy, our elected officials are supposed to maintain a connection with their constituency--keeping them informed, keeping an ear to their concerns, and striving to act in their behalf. We obviously can't have a system where the national public votes on every issue of concern. But it is alarming how little information is actually disseminated down to the local level.

Changing the environment to one of greater public ownership and responsibility of the process requires leadership that prizes such an engaged citizenry. Instead, both parties seem content to assume that the people don't want to be bothered with "the details," and that it's just plain simpler to trust in those who have power. An environment where people are treated like sheep can only last for so long before those being herded become suspicious of the long snouts and pointy teeth in their midst. Even sheep can rebel--and rebel we must.