why do only the big issues seem to be what the politicians use to campaign on?

This is quite accurate. Politicians will focus on the issues that will get them votes. While this seems wrong, I guess one could use the theory, that if a politician wins the election, then he can focus on the smaller, less well known issues. Whether in reality they do this or not, I am not sure.

Well the problem is that before elections they give us all the crapof what they promise they are going to do..then all they do is come and make a mess of every thing. I find it so hard to find a decent party to vote for and always end up voting green because at least they do want to do something for the environment lol.

It is the same way up here in Canada. And even when they get voted in they dont follow through on the big issues they were talking about. Sometimes I think they are criminals. I agree they neglect the smaller problems because they won't get them votes or enough votes by the larger group of the population.

It is incredible how we always have this long list of problems every time an election is about to come up. The items on that list basically stay the same. It is the order that changes as people see different problems at different times. And over a long period, very few of these problems ever get solved. Sure, there are smaller problems, but a politician's only goal is to get elected. What happens after they attain office doesn't matter, because so little changes. So, they must find fault with the party in power on the major issues because those are the ones that affect the most people and will get the most votes.