Why don't citizens have a more active role in the regulations the government makes?

We're living in a mostly socialist country. the peoples desires are irrelevent. The government will tell you what to do.

Because we live in a representative democracy (i.e. a republic). You are confusing our political system with direct democracy. Our representatives create regulations instead of people because they can dedicate their time to gathering data and contemplating the consequences of regulatory policy. The people on the other hand have to work their jobs and raise their families, so they don't have the time to read all the reports and carefully consider each and every alternative. For issues which deeply concern you, you have a wide variety of options for affecting the change you want. You can educate yourself and others and encourage them to write, e-mail, or call their representative. You can educate yourself and others and hold a fundraiser, then take those funds and support a lobbyist group whose agenda closely aligns with yours. You can educate yourself and others and draft a proposal. You could then send this proposal to your representative for consideration. Ultimately, we have a republic instead of a direct democracy for the sake of order. The masses are easily roused to group think and hysteria. Don't assume that the voice of the people is sacred. There have been many instances throughout history when the people have acted very stupidly.

They do. Every Agency that issues regulations, holds public hearings on them. It is usually the public that ask for the regulations in the first place.

We elect our representatives to do this for us. Why? Because that is our form of government. After 200 years I doubt that the United States will choose another form of government.