Against this backdrop the Liverpool Democracy Commission, on which I sat as a private sector representative, recently concluded its lengthy investigation in to ways we can enliven democractic participation in the city.

The findings have been trailed elsewhere and, within the terms of reference set, I found it a fascinating and thorough examination chaired with characteristic good humour and efficiency by Professor Michael Brown.

And I'll admit here and now that, as someone who pays attention more than most, I had no idea just how much work our councillors of all stripes put in - and for precious little thanks, too, as far as I can see.

But to return to my personal view of democratic engagement: from where I'm sitting our institutions of state have functioned so well for so long that we've been able to focus on more selfish needs. Monitoring the efficiency and health of our democratic institutions - never mind engaging with them above and beyond the ballot box - has not been a concern for decades. Far from it.

The last time we engaged in a struggle for democracy was the 1930s, when Scousers of all hues took up arms in Spain in defence of liberty, certain that fascism would imperil our way of life. They were right, of course.

Twelve years of a surprisingly anti-libertarian government, whittling away our rights and imposing new obligations on us as citizens, still hasn't shaken our collective understanding that democracy is a delicate flower that can die from within. More than three thousand new crimes have been created during that time, too, in the urge to control us, yet still we don't march.

The nanny state has equipped itself with more than a thousand new reasons why it can barge its way past our front door in to our homes - and still we remain silent.

Perhaps it's not the British way and perhaps we'll see our fervour for democracy silently and forecefully made on May 6th 2010. But until then I do wonder whether modernising language and utilising new channels of communcation - welcome and necessary as they are - will be sufficient to rouse people in to action.

Certainly, the blogs and comment pages have been alive with enraged voters clamouring for their chance to cast their vote. And I know I'm not alone in thinking that many in the political class just don't get the public's indignation and anger, which itself risks feeding their alienation and disengagement.

So maybe Billy Connolly had it right all along: "don't vote - it just encourages them."

Dougal Paver, is the managing director of Paver Smith PR and sat on the recent Liverpool Commission into democracy.