> As an American I'm ashamed that my government has done things like this
Have you voted against all of your elected representatives that authorized it?
The only way things like this will change is if the people force them to change by making it clear to politicians that they will not be elected or re-elected if they support them.
Politicians currently in office of both parties do it, yes. That doesn't mean politicians of both parties who will be running for office in the future will necessarily do it. There are many ways for voters to communicate preferences prior to elections in order to influence the policy positions of candidates. Of course it won't change drastically in just one election; we didn't get to where we are now with just one election. It took many decades. But change has to start somewhere.
Have you voted against all of your elected representatives that authorized it?
The only way things like this will change is if the people force them to change by making it clear to politicians that they will not be elected or re-elected if they support them.