Having been in a religion that claimed we were engaged in the most history making work in... well... history, while at the same time forbidding us from taking any involvement in the things that actually do make history, I find politics refreshing. It shapes history.
Attitude is everything. For instance, you see cynicism rear it's ugly head often (it's actually on this very thread, if you look closely). This is usually because people feel powerless against dogmatism, and especially powerless against the already powerful and rich politicians and special interest.
But look at it this way; the very course of history, and the lives of each person reading this, even the ones not living in the USA are affected by the decisions and actions of one man, George Bush. One man affects most everones life! Love him or hate him, he affects your life! Now some may see that as a reason to be cynical... to feel powerless; I don't. Attitude is everything; if one man can affect the world, with the help of millions of voters of course, then I can do something about that, it's not some vast conspiracy, not yet anyway. He was voted in, if I don't like the job he's doing (and I don't ), I can sure try to vote him out. If someone else likes the job he's doing, they can try to vote for him to keep doing it, and I want to hear what they like about the job he's doing, even if I disagree.
All the progress in this world has come about because people, WORLDLY people, took action. They took political action, humanitarian action, self-improvement action. They did not just wait on Jehovah. Well folks, to quote brother Jackson, we are the world; we are the let's not act like children, lol.