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This is actually a semi-common problem in the Western world. See also: Spain and Britain. We've seem to hit a point where populations in some countries are split evenly and there is no unifying political will.

The Athenian solution to this, if I recall, is ostracization. Every year citizens vote by writing the name of a single citizen. The citizen with the most votes, provided a minimum bar of 6,000 had been met, was banished for ten years.

I think this would have the effect of preventing polarizing figures. If you were so polarizing a large portion of the population hated you...

I could imagine adapting the practice for modern sensibilities. Create a resort run by federal money out on the beach of some tropical island. Free food, drinks, games. It could double as a tourist attraction so there would be people to hang out with. If you win the ostracization vote you get a five year vacation on the state and all of your previous positions or titles are withdrawn.

Probably similar percentage that would be in the EU and everywhere else in the developed world. The disconnect between the politicians and the voters has never been higher since the end of WW2.

This is to be attributed to the rise in inequality. The rich get richer, the poor get austerity.

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