[WS:] But it has not always been that way, no? People tried and tried and were getting nowhere because the political system is set against any reform. So they eventually tuned out. In other words, the reason people tune out is systemic instead - or maybe in addition to- psychological. The British/American electoral system has been designed to provide political representation to landowners while keeping the riff raff out. The extension of the suffrage was accompanied by measures nullifying the impact of that extension on the political system.
Michael S: 'To call this 'dysfunctional' seems odd. To paraphrase Lady Bracknell, it looks a great deal like carefulness."
[WS:] I meant dysfunctional for providing effective political representation to the minority interests. But as I noted above, it was very effective in keeping the riff raff out of the halls of power while creating an illusion of the greatest democracy on Earth.
-- Wojtek http://wsokol.blogspot.com/