Spacer, you bring up many good points about aviation today, and the impression of it that the general public holds. It seems quite common, in the U.S. anyway, that airport politics and bickering take up a lot of energy that could instead be used to promote the usefulness of GA to local citizens. We seem to be our own worst enemies -- we wonder why more people aren't interested in flying, then we can't even get out to our own aircraft because of the layers of security and all that stupid BS that goes with it.
I think that all you can do, is do your best to be involved with the airport people, the community the best you can, and the groups of young people -- EAA, the Girl and Boy Scouts, school groups, etc. I've done so many tours, talks, classes and presentations that I can't count them, and it DOES help a lot if young people can SEE the airplane (helicopter) and SIT in the pilot's seat.
Like G-Man, when we're on contract, anyone and everyone is welcome to sit in the plane, sit up front, whatever. I always ask to take their pictures, and will send them to them if they want. I still run into fire guys who brought their little kids out to see the plane years ago, and they talk about the impression it made on them.
AOPA has several programs where you can do more to work to get other people involved, and also a lot of states welcome help through their aeronautics divisions, too. Plus, the Ninety-Nines are a strong advocate for GA -- we do lots of flying companion seminars, airmarking, safety meetings, etc.
Plus, you never know whom you might be inviting to step aboard -- one day I told two curious gentlemen they were more than welcome to check out the airplane, and they turned out to be FAA inspectors, who just so HAPPENED to tag the cargo planes parked on either side of the Minivan -- a beat-up old Metroliner on one side, and a better-looking, but obviously still unsatisfactory, Caravan on the other. After grounding them both, they complimented the Minivan on her fine looks, and vanished.
Ya never know.......