and for the record I agree with everything Joe is saying.
But you're also discounting all the local voting people do for elected officials where it does directly influence their life. Sure shit going on behind the scenes in Iraq isn't something we voted on, but telling everyone to not vote period is stupid. Lots of things people vote on in cities goes directly to law. Also, many representatives probably do what they can to represent the people as well as they can, it's by no means perfect, but our alternative is to tear up the constitution. I can totally understand the resentment, as I graduated with a political science degree and have became totally disenchanted with politics through the process.
Basically, the government and the controlling bodies are the ones to attack not normal people for voting.