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America needs you to become a better citizen

Maybe it’s you, not them.

Americans are sick of Washington politicians who mug constantly for the cameras, pound tables in mock indignation and accomplish less on the job than a fourth-string quarterback. But the problem with American democracy might have more to do with cynical voters than the people they hire to represent them.

“The United States has been slipping in terms of its levels of civic engagement,” Bob Graham, former Florida Gov. and US senator, tells Yahoo Finance in the video above. “That’s one thing that’s happening with this presidential election. People are demonstrating their disaffection in many ways. What’s needed is a strong new sense of civic responsibility.”

Graham is co-author (with Chris Hand) of “America: The Owner’s Manual,” a guide to civic involvement that’s just being issued for the second time. The book gives guidance on how to address problems with government, and get solutions—whether it’s a pothole that needs to be filled on your street or a national interest group you want to set up to influence policy.

Graham points out that while people tend to pay way more attention to national politics, events at the local level often affect them more directly—whether it’s resources for schools, crime, parking regulations, property taxes or noise ordinances. And people can be more influential at a local level, since it’s usually easier to get the ear of a city councilman than a senator.

Effective citizen campaigns for change typically have a few things in common. Activists should be specific in terms of what problem they want fixed. They need to identify who in government can fix the problem, instead of complaining to whoever happens to answer the phone. It helps to find allies who might want a similar outcome (even if for a different reason), and join forces. Finally, says Graham, “understand what buttons you can punch to get the decision-maker to agree with your solutions.”

Americans generally believe many key institutions don’t work any more—especially government. The portion of Americans who say they trust the government most or all of the time has plunged from 42% at the end of the 1990s to just 19%, according to Gallup. Congress fares worst, with an approval rating that’s usually below 20%. But 71% of Americans say they trust local government, a portion that has generally stayed high for 40 years. Maybe something is going right, somewhere, after all.

Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.

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