achieving personal peace amidst the chaos

I have a sense that somewhere along the way my government abandoned me and many of my fellow Americans. Our concerns are not shared by the administration; worse, they are laughed at and ridiculed. I no longer hold the naive belief that my interest in ending the Iraq war, preserving the environment for future generations, or restoring the viability of our cities hold any sway with the powers in Washington. This is the state of chaos that I perceive, and yet I cannot continue to wake up angry each day. I must find a proper medium, somewhere between fatalistic acceptance and desire for radical overhaul through any means necessary. I must find this personal peace or this balance in order to work toward positive change in the world.