The "dumbing down" effect is apparent all over. And there are places in our political life where a single individual can affect things for millions - look at the US Senate where a single (or two, if you're looking at the Democrats) senator can say, anonymously, that they oppose some bill and it automatically has to go to the 60 vote threshold. Or can't even be acted upon (cloture) until a whole bunch of other things happen. The filibuster was a tool of the slave states back in that day and the protest process has been streamlined to cut off most Democratic initiatives. But as long as a couple of the Democratic senators get the dollars they want from industries and rich individuals, they will all all of the good works possible. And at some point here education of the American public in the matter of Social Studies and Civics must be restored.