Frogs being boiled—public has gotten used to it, even numb.

Like the doc Hypernormalization.. the leaders have gradually become actors (post JFK; Reagan was literally) putting on a show for the media and not doing anything meaningful because too many people have lost (or ignored) the ability to measure, understand, question, or identify the actions and words that differentiate between effective and ineffective leaders. This extends from a lack of viable mechanisms to effect accountability for poor performance. High office needs more seriousness, rigor, and a firm code of ethics with consequences for violating them.