It is part of the politician's job to educate and form the opinions of the populace. Lately politicians have just figured out that instead of nurturing opinions that are good for society as a whole it is more effective to nurture opinions that increase their chances of reelection.

> It's really convenient to blame the politicians instead of the people that vote for them.

One of the major roles of elected officials is to take responsibility for what's happening, that's the major point of representative democracy. People would be responsible only if they had the right to enact and endorse laws directly. This is really basic stuff, should be understood by everyone older than 7.

Not to mention that in the real world, all candidates are equally disinterested in the lives of people or fish. It doesn't matter who people vote for.

> If people had a long term vision, politicians would too.

Talk about putting the cart before the horse. People don't have to have long term vision, that's politician's job, they all promise good things but never deliver and keep blaming the guy before them instead.

There's never been a government in the world whose majority wasn't influenced by taking bribes.