A good place to start with change is with your representative in congress and the one in your state. I e-mail, send articles and letters, go to all of the town halls mine have and ask a lot of questions. I also keep up with what's going on in my city and attend a council meeting now and then. You may not think they're listening, but they are. I've had more than one tell me their staffs keep them very well informed about how the people in their districts are thinking, and they ALWAYS check which way the wind is blowing before they vote on anything. It's difficult for any one of them to have much of an impact, and equally difficult to get a majority of them headed the same direction. I have been active in city government, serving on commissions, and believe me elected officials and city staff do pay attention if they want to keep their seats or their jobs. To have an effect you must get involved.
Off my soap box, now.