Your point is as good as any of the above. I think it is not possible to answer. Did they try?
Nope. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a confrontational thing. It was a relative who's background is as a Chicago democrat. Not that she's a politician, just brought up as a democrat.
We were discussing the issue of big government and why people look to it to solve society's ills. I pointed out that people being imperfect, why do we believe that government, which is made up of some of the most imperfect (self-centered) people, is a proper resolution? It made her think.
I then went one step further. Why do people get in to politics? The answer is simple. They're self-centered and get into it for their own gratification. Even those who become public "servants", not politicians, do it for self-centered reasons. They have a life-long income, often greater than possible in the private sector, with little chance of termination, and a great pension to boot.
Thus, those we're giving the responsibility to to "serve" society are among the most self-serving people of all.
She didn't argue, but I could tell she thought about it.