The political systems in the West are such that not the best, most competent, most suited by character, the most self-controlled, calm and reasonable people get elected, but those who lie the most ruthlessly, boast the most unscrupulously, make promises the most infinitely, nod at the most of peoples' wishes and demands, and are embedded and raised in the bigger corrupted networks of people being like this.
If you want better candidates, Neal, you need to want a better electorate first.
The candidates are just a mirror's reflection of the electorate.