DAE feel helpless?

I woke up this morning and examined the election results. I'm an independent who overall dislikes both major parties and sees them as part of the same problem. I was very saddened to see what happened in Wisconsin, and in other races. There were some good things, but overall we have swung into conservative limbo.

People at work this morning were talking about how it's a shame more Tea Party candidates didn't win, as they would be the only ones to reduce government spending. I listen to these people, and look at the election results, and I honestly just feel helpless. No amount of factual discourse will persuade these people that their candidates are only looking out for themselves and won't do hardly anything to help main street. And, if main street is helped, some people probably made a ton of money off it.

I asked some of my coworkers about defense spending in relation to reducing government spending. One of them told me that it's a completely separate issue, and that's why none of the candidates talked about it during their campaigns.

Talking to these people is like shouting at the rain. I'm so disillusioned with the politics in this country, over almost every issue, but I just can't bring myself to give up on them and not stay informed. Does anyone else feel this way?