Federal level politics.... MONEY!! Local senatorial election saw $15 million spent in campaign advertising... for a job that pays $170,000/year. It has become all about who has the most money and how they can use that money for influence.
At the Federal level, we have seen a development of cult followings of Limbaugh, Beck, and Fox News. People will listen to one side of an issue and, depending on whether it be deemed conservative or liberal, will take that analysis as gospel. Pundits make millions of dollars keeping people riled up about politics so they will tune in the next day.
At the Federal level, we have lost checks and balances with the work being accomplished. The waste in purchasing and contracting is sinful. We don't want to hear about cutting the Defense budget, as this always ends up hurting our military. Cutting of Defence budgets should be to wipe out the bribery and corruption in procurement programs. Won't happen due to the money connection between defense contractors and our elected officials.
At the State level, we have close to 50 governors who want to be King of their own turf. It has become fashionable for governors to make every attempt to break away from the Feds... yet sitting their with their hands out for disaster funds and agricultural subsidies, etc.
At the local level, we have become more concerned with collecting taxes for "economic development"... handing tax dollars over to businesses and industries to hire people at minimum wage... than with maintaining our infrastructure. We can't find dollars to repair existing water, sewer, and roadways. Yet, we can always seem to give tax abatements to businesses wanting to build or renovate facilities. Why? Because water, sewer, and roadways don't contribute dollars to campaign funds.
We, as a Country, no longer seem to enjoy being "Americans". Instead, we have to be conservative or liberal. We have to be Republican, Democrat, Tea Party, or Libertarian. We have to be Asian-American, Mexican-American, Afro-American... or some other ethnic title. Why can't we all just be Americans, working together for the good of the whole??!!??
We, as a Country, no longer hesitate to put our sons and daughter in harm's way fighting wars in foreign lands attempting to change thousand year old cultures. If we had the draft... If the wealthy of our land would have to see their own sons and daughters torn apart by IED's, we would be more cautious about what was "defense" and what was "offense".
We, as a Country, no longer have a Legislative Branch and an Executive Branch and a Judicial Branch working as a means of governance through checks and balances. Instead, we have political divisions that can do nothing but see one branch attempting to block anything and everything another branch puts forth. We have a Congress that won't pass any legislation because one political party might get the credit and the other party not.
But, I still firmly believe we who live here in the United States of America are blessed to live in the best Country on God's Green Earth!! Our system, though tried and tired, still works. Our system, though becoming burdened by greed and corruption, still provides my family much opportunity. Our system, though political pundits may try to convince you differently, still blesses me with liberties and freedoms to work, worship, love, and live how and where I wish.
Stay involved in politics. We can't be part of the solution if we sit on a couch twiddling our thumbs. Research... dig... learn... educate yourself on all sides of an issue. We are only as dumbed down as we allow ourselves to be.
and I hate learning new stuff on the computer because I'm usually too busy reading. 
