Mate, it wasn't wise to believe that in 1952 either. It's gotten worse, sure, especially at the top, but there are still thousands of "politicians" out there running local board meetings and trying to do their best to keep their communities going.
And these thousands still represent the vast majority. Vote for them.
It has not gotten any worse. The rapacious greed of politicians in service to their own interest has been universal since the beginning of politics.