There is the question: if they’re such idiots, why are they running things? To which the answer is “time and energy.” They’ve devoted their time and energy to taking over bureaucracies while the productive middle class have focused on being productive.

Exactly. It also helps when you don’t have to worry about making a living because your parents did the same damn thing. Its amazing how many politicians are the descendants of politicians, and the longer the line, the worse they tend to be. Look at the Kennedys. Look at Al Gore. We have a political class that more and more consists of little dynasties of people who have never done anything in their lives other than being politicians except for brief stints in “cover” jobs that are provided to them because of their family/political connections.
Which Kennedy was it that had a job with the District Attorney’s office in Boston even before he had passed the Bar Exam (it was his third try, he had failed twice before)?

But it all goes in cycles. When are times are good people don’t want to be bothered by politics or politicians. They have better things to do. I don’t blame them. But at this point the weasels see an unguarded hen house, and they sneak in, and cause general ruin. Then, people become interested. It happened with Jimmy Carter. It seems to be happening again.