The idea that politicians, and by extension, politics, is sincere, is laughably naive. Politicians have only one primary interest: Maintain power. Here in America, maintaining power means winning elections. The idea that anything a politician would say could actually be sincere assumes that the interests of the politician aligns with your interests. While the politician may align themselves with your interests, it is only in the pursuit of winning reelection. In the end, politicians are humans motivated by incentives like anyone else.
Bunkraku theater is a form of Japanese puppet theater, involving elaborate puppets. This form of theater is highly expressive, especially considering the use of puppets. The puppets will make exaggerated movements and gestures in order to demonstrate the mood of the scene. Crying will be over the top, laughter will be bombastic, and evil laughter will be absolutely maniacal. The puppets connect with the audience by their excessive human traits; they act more human than actual human beings. I bring up bunraku as an allegory for how politicians act. A politician’s primary objective is to remain in power, and the incentives are such that they will say or do pretty much almost anything to maintain power. This is the reason why corruption is always an issue, and why politicians are masters at saying exactly what you want to hear. Both by natural skill, training, and just the natural selection of bad potential politicians losing, politicians are exceptionally adept at connecting with those they are seeking their votes from. As with bunraku theater, both the politician and the puppet connect with people by acting excessively human.
Acting, oratory, and rhetoric, are all essential skills not just for movie stars, puppeteers, or lawyers, but also politicians. Virtually all of the US Congress and Senate receives some sort of consulting on how to connect with voters, and how to look the part of C-Span. In fact, watching C-Span, you’ll notice a pattern of how virtually everyone on Capitol Hill speaks: They seldom use technical jargon, and while their language is not simple, it is rather pedestrian. The words are seldom every more than 4 to 5 syllables long at most. Their expressions are emotive; they convey anger, disdain, and frustration to their opposition, and joy, support, and pride for their allies consistently. Grandstanding should be considered an Olympic sport that virtually anyone in Washington DC could take for the gold. And finally, the ability to just talk seemingly forever about themselves, and their accomplishments.
For America, it is unsurprising that our politicians seem so fake, yet so incredibly real and human at the same time. They have a lizard like brain for political self preservation, yet they connect so easily with anyone on a personal level. It is in their interest to act as such in order to keep their station in life. They might actually have to get a real job if they didn’t.