What is the lack of interest in politics by many citizens?

Many people feel that their vote doesn't influence the government and some don't understand how the government works. In recent years the teaching of American history and government is not getting taught in schools or is watered down to a few paragraphs in a textbooks. This creates a lack of understanding how a democracy works and a poor foundation for understanding the history of the country. Instead people believe misinformation and legends concerning government. The politicians don't help by feeding into using this lack of understanding and add to it. The press also feeds the lack of information and create a atmosphere allowing the political parties and politicians to continue to misrepresent the political process.