People don't care.  This seven minute TED talk challenges this notion.

Local politics -- schools, zoning, council elections -- hit us where we live. So why don't more of us actually get involved? Is it apathy? Dave Meslin says no. He identifies 7 barriers that keep us from taking part in our communities, even when we truly care.

Video:

http://www.ted.com/talks/dave_meslin_the_antidote_to_apathy.html