It's easy to blame government and media, and there is no doubt that those in power want to stay that way and that media (The Circus) is more concerned with viewership than with acting as a weapon for the people in the battle to keep the state at bay, but I would have to argue that the blame lies mainly with the people, themselves.
It is far simpler to work and parent and play, all the while nodding along to whatever bias-confirming source that feeds you your "news" than it is to demand more and better from both elected officials and media outlets.
Most people won't make time for a PTA meeting... forget about them attempting to sift through all of the bias to find out what is really happening in their community, country, and world. And getting them off the couch? Forget it.
The vast majority of people will complain, waiting for someone else to do something, until they, personally, are bitten by a law or regulation.
I am right there with you in wanting a government that leaves me alone to pursue my happiness (and my own failures) but beginning to fix a problem means being brutally honest about its source.