What is the root cause? How did this get so incredibly bad? Is it the fault of the public? Is it the public's fault we are in an Orwellian state of Soviet-era Germany? Or does Hanlon's Razor apply here?
In any case, there needs to be more action than just bandage measures like petitions and phoning your Congressman. This level of government negligence deserves an uproar, and sadly we're not getting it because many trust government, and are not skeptical in the slightest about it.
We have those animals called "politicians" to blame for that.
So, if people really want to change, lead a march on Capitol Hill. Be attention-seekers, make a change for the better, not for the worse. Let your life have value, and use that value against the worthless individuals sitting at their desks in Washington.
Just do something worthwhile, not sitting behind that sRGB display of yours. Painless encryption, countermeasures, protests, whatever -- we need to do something.