Oh sure, I agree. My point was that in order for our political systems to be less dominated by "the standard issues," people need to literally get out there, en

Oh sure, I agree. My point was that in order for our political systems to be less dominated by "the standard issues," people need to literally get out there, en masse, for anything to seriously change. (Think civil rights movement scale, not OWS). But I think you've hinted at the larger issue when you said "people care more about putting food on plates" - too many people simply do not have the freedom (time/resources) to care about anything other than "keeping their heads above water", as it were.