I have to disagree. There's still a huge underground punk scene around much of the world and it's still fairly politicized. Fucked Up are probably the biggest band in hardcore right now and they're explicitly political. Their guitarist, at least, has been heavily involved in radical politics. Sure for a whole lot of bands, the state, cops, consumerism, war are just something to sing about. (The band Regulations spring to mind.) But I'm sure the same was true in the eighties. The point is, singing about politics is still a convention in alot of subgenres and scenes.
In terms of why it doesn't translate into action more.. well... the kindof rejectionist anarchist politics that goes with the genre can be kindof paralyzing, in my opinion. So a lot of energy goes into "lifestyle"... (somebody call Murray Bookchin)
> almost like its just assumed these days that if you're punk you're
> already against the war so why make a big deal about it. Which
> dovetails with my own anecdotal observation that punk kids in the city
> I'm living in these days practically never show up to demos or
> marches. It really pisses me off.
What about the Green Day and the Eminem fans? ... Sorry, couldn't help myself.