I can understand that people feel powerless. The important thing in my opinion is to understand, that politics is nothing superficial in a democracy. Littarly everyone can be politically active. And when more people try to get into politics, there will be a better market of ideas.
And it is important who is influencing people in general. Since politicians are also only people. We people are influenced from what we see and hear. The big difference is that powerful companies will send lobbyist to the parlament to cry about the problems and opportunities of their company.
It is clear, that politicians start to beliefe, that those requests are important when they are coming to ask them every day.
I see the biggest opportunities in the following points:
1. Invest the time when elections come. Read what politicians promise. We can never be sure if they will be doing what they say. But still it is important to read what politicians go for. Whom they are most loyal. And then try to find the person that is most loyal to your personal beliefs.
2. Hold politicians accountable. Write emails to them before parlamentarian votes. Like this they have an opportunity to take it into account.
3. Get vocal about pressing issues: Within friends, social events, in the internet, comment sections of newspapers or where ever other society members are.
4. Participate in peaceful protest. It is not the coolest. But protest give the oppotunity to unite with people who are part of a movement. There one can learn how to get active. How to participate.
5. Arrange personal decisions to your own maximes. Lower pollution, when climatechange is important to you. Eat a less meat, when you want less animals to die for your food. Support projects you want to be successful. Buy their products, donate money, participate in forums.
Every single of the points above have real impact on society. Those are steps every citizen is able to do. When democracy is important to us, then we also have to participate in it. Democracy is no TV-Show. It only happens when we actively participate. We are the change.