They would have to admit they were wrong!
When you have personally bought into a certain worldview no matter how ridiculous it is in reality & incongruent with the facts. You will fight tooth and nail to keep from changing that view!
That’s the real problem - denial. There are two reasons for otherwise intelligent people to deny the obvious corruption and decay in government:
1) Pride. If they acknowledged the truth about what is happening, they would have to admit they have been wrong all along. It’s easier to double down and put the blinders back on.
2) Cowardice. If they acknowledge the truth about what is happening, they would then be obligated to do something about it. But they are afraid of a fight. They don’t want to give up their comfortable lives. They would rather bury their heads in the sand than admit we are in a fight for our lives.