I'm not really sure there is a majority in this country anymore. Just look at the results of last presidential election. Obama won with 51% of votes from less than 60% of eligible population. That is hardly representative. Likewise, just over 50% of the actual voters voted for Bush in 2004 with only about 55% of the eligible voters going to the polls.

I don't know what it would take to get people more involved in running this country. Unfortunately, by our absence, we are basically abrogating our responsibility and turning it over to special interest groups that do not necessarily represent the will of the people.

Maybe things would be exactly the same if 80% turned out to vote, but at least we'd be more sure that we have a representative government.

My wife grew up under a dictatorship where "elections" were held every five years. Even though she was regularly harassed at the polls (she belonged to an opposition party), and even though her candidates never had a chance at victory, she could not imagine not voting.