I think you have a lot of faith in democratic processes at this point, despite widespread evidence such as this very article that they are being clearly undermined.
Yes, if people actually had faith in democratic processes, they would have standards for the people they elect, and be involved in civics and actvism. Corruption is endemic precisely because people don't care.
Or more accurately, because the only people who do care are the people who benefit from corruption.
We would benefit from more civic engagement, but let’s not mischaracterize the situation. Those with more money really do have more power, which they use to buy more influence directly through legalized bribery or indirectly through media control. A choice between two candidates is like that between Coke and Pepsi, one a bit sweeter than the other but both manufactured by the ownership class. Consider the Gaza genocide, corporate handouts, mass surveillance - it is a long list of what politicians support contrary to popular will. The solution is indeed more civic engagement - not simply being satisfied with voting in a rigged system and going home but engaging in other forms of popular power like labor organizing as well. It’s our economy they rely on and we have real power to shut it down through solidarity and mass strikes. What we need to up our game, especially in this time as our democratic institutions are being completely unraveled.
