The real solution being to devolve more power to state legislatures with on-the-ground familiarity with local issues, since it's actually quite easy to get the ear of your _state_ representative.
I think this exactly right. However, in the U.S. we have been moving in precisely the opposite direction for decades, centralizing power more and more at the federal level. This is, in part anyway, what has turned federal elections into such a bloodsport. If your side loses, people who don't share your values or understand anything about where you live suddenly have a big say in a lot of things that affect you directly. This is true regardless of your particular political affiliation.
