Are politics irrelevant?

During my previous semester in college I didn't have a television. I became completely unaware of the news, specifically politics, which always ends up annoying me. Now that I'm home and spending time at my friend's houses, I've been watching shows on channels like MSNBC. I get the feeling that all the supposed important topics covered have no effect on me or anyone unless people believe such. It seems that what they discuss has little impact other than getting my friend's dad all in a tizzy. Is this justified or am I in my own little world as usual? Also as an INTP I think that many of the mainstream "hot" topics are boring. More or less an evolved form of the interpersonal bull I deal with among people my age (20 years). Also this is my first post and any constructive criticism pertaining to how I've formed it is welcome.