why are people so passive to the fact that an elite runs our government?

Question

why would they rather be watching football?

Answer 1

Football always seemed a lot more simpler to me than politics and civics.

Why wouldn't somebody rather be entertained than be forced to fulfill a responsibility? We believe that a life without enjoyment is pointless and each of us only understands and endures so much social duty.

If instead you're asking why the masses never ever pay attention to the inequality in dealing with hierarchal elites, then you need to realize how positioning is a dynamic game, not a mechanical process. It's our sociological nature to trust others with orders and tasks we would rather not do ourselves, so when somebody promises us that he'll do it, we let him do it.

Likewise, that's why Democracy works. If we don't like someone's progress or reputation while in office, we replace him with another guy. Yes he's another elite, but elites are better than regulars since they're specialized and experienced in their fields of work.