If I said idiots I'd be optimistic. I believe it's actually worse than that.
See, for example here in Germany there's this ruckus about politicians wanting to uphold nuclear reactors instead of sticking to their agenda and shift to "green" energy like wind or water. In response they proposed new laws that will require cartels to pay extra money for keeping their nuclear reactors, money for better security (since some nuclear power plants have malfunctioned recently. No catastrophes, but it's a warning sign. A bigger warning sign are caves for storing nuclear waste that are in horrible, groundwater-polluting-horrible condition) and money for helping the government fund green energy projects.
On paper.
In reality, they can offset the biggest chunk of money against tax, the part where they have to pay for continuing to run a power plant at all. As for security and green energy investment, well, it's designed so that if they invest heavily in security they need to pay less for green energy and vice-versa.
See, they're not stupid. We're stupid. They know they can fool us and only a tiny percentage will actually read the new laws and understand them. They will continue to cuddle with the economy and the lobbies will keep winning. Why? Because the big money isn't found in political jobs, it's all in the economy! Many politicians either receive instant-donations (If anybody here is from Germany, a party called FDP should ring some bells) or they are promised high positions in the economy where they won't have to worry about small pensions.
Tho, when I see those public sessions in parliament, they really come off as the most uneducated and childish people you have ever seen in your life. Literally, in the last debate there was something like "Oh, Mrs. Merkel (<- Germany's big boss right now), it really doesn't take that much intelligence to criticize your government" and the response was "Oh, look at yourself!" and then it just went on an on like two five-year-olds quarreling about should play with the new toy next. And to top things, the party that was part of the governing coalition last time, once again, did a huge leap backwards and suddenly criticizes everything the government does, because they are now in the opposition. Does that stop them from criticizing plans they backed up when they where in the governing coalition? No, it doesn't. Are they stupid because of that? No, they're not, it's just a strategy to gain more voters. And it works. They're not stupid, their voters are IMO.
Those people don't realize they have to work together in order to make a good government. Or maybe they realize it but they don't give a shit. It would fit with the egoistical behavior that makes them favor the money from the economy lobbies instead of the people.
I don't believe my country is run by idiots. I believe it's mostly run by unqualified people that know how to get voters and they exceed in this role so well they start subverting the idea of democracy.
We need more people that pay attention to politics and invest time and effort into it, but most of us either don't have the time and willpower left from the gray daily routine or they're not interested as long as it's directly and visibly hurting them.
/opinion
